Blessed Is the Man Who Trusts in the Lord, and Rests His Confidence Upon

THE ADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD + WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL EDITION Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , and rests his confidence upon him. He shall be like a tree planted by the waterside, that stretches its roots along the stream. When the heat comes it has nothing to fear; its spreading foliage stays green. Jeremiah 17.7 8, N.E.B. 1.74:1,"*PZro.1 EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Four Texts in Context ANY Christians might find new excitement But this is not the main point that Peter is mak- in Bible study by the simple expedient of ing. Peter is talking about how to react when one reading various familiar texts in context. is mistreated. He says that if a person submits In some cases they would discover that (1) the text meekly when he suffers for wrongdoing, this is not does not mean what they think it means, (2) it is particularly remarkable; after all, he "has it com- often misapplied, and (3) it has a broader meaning ing." But when a person does nothing wrong, yet than they suspect. To illustrate the point, let us suffers, then a patient, nonretaliatory reaction is note four examples. commendable. Peter sets forth Christ as our example The first is 1 Corinthians 3:17: "If any man defile in this respect: "Who did no sin, neither was guile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." What reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened is the apostle Paul talking about? Not the human not; but committed himself to him that judgeth body, but the church. So when Paul warns, "If any righteously" (verses 22, 23). "In the face of mount- man defile [or destroy] the temple of God, him shall ing injustice Christ exhibited a perfect pattern of God destroy," he is saying, "It is a serious thing to suffering for righteousness' sake. He met evil weaken and undermine the church by 'envying, and taunts and insinuations without retaliation. He con- strife, and divisions' " (verse 3). The church is the fronted the meanness of men with a magnanimous temple of God; and God will destroy those who by love. He suffered patiently, confident that God schismatic practices destroy the church. Says the would make all things work together for good."— SDA Bible Commentary: "It is a fearful thing to The SDA Bible Commentary on 1 Peter 2:21. bring injury to the church of God. Those who by Obviously, verse 21 says a great deal more to our word or example tear down that which God has "now" situation when it is kept in context than built up are denounced as worthy of the most severe when it is read as an isolated verse. Standing alone, punishment."—Comments on 1 Cor. 3:17. it seems to point to some vague time in the future Without question the physical body is the temple when Christians will be persecuted as was Jesus. of the Holy Ghost; Paul makes this plain in 1 Corin- But in context the verse says: "Don't fight back thians 6:19, 20. But in 1 Corinthians 3 he is talk- when you are misunderstood and mistreated. Your ing about a different body—the church. Master has set you an example in this respect. Peo- Now let us look at 1 Corinthians 15:31: "I die ple reviled Him, but He didn't react in kind. He daily." To most Christians this text means crucify was treated wrongfully and cruelly, but He accepted self each morning, and let Christ live within (as it meekly. He let God square accounts. You do outlined in Galatians 2:20). As homily this meaning the same." is legitimate enough, but as exegesis it lacks a great deal. And, in context the verse means something Accountability to God quite different. In 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul And now the fourth example: "For none of us is discussing the resurrection. In part he is arguing liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself" for the certainty of the resurrection. He says that (Rom. 14:7). More often than not, this verse is used inasmuch as Christ died and came forth from the to teach the importance of influence in interpersonal tomb, all who die in Christ also will come forth. relationships ("Whatever you do, affects someone Then Paul refers to his own experience. He says else"). But the verses that surround this text reveal that his life is one of persecution, difficulty, harass- that the apostle Paul had in mind a very different ment, trials, physical dangers, and hardships of all point. Paul is emphasizing accountability to God. kinds (and documentation of this certainly is not He says that whether in questions of dietary prac- lacking; see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; 4:8-11). For the tices or the day one regards as holy, satisfy God, He sake of Christ he puts his life in jeopardy every clay. urges Christians to stop judging one another; but Scorning a safe and easy life, he risks his own life to recognize the Lordship of Christ, and be sensi- daily in order to share with others the good news tive to His wishes and commands. "For none of us of salvation. This "living death" experience he uses liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." as an argument for the resurrection. Paul is saying, "Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and "It would be irrational for me to take such risks for whether we die, we die unto the Lord" (verse 8). a false teaching. The fact that I am willing to 'die Elsewhere Paul makes the same point: "Whether daily' for this doctrine shows how deeply I believe therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsover ye do, do all it." to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). A third text that is rich with meaning when ex- Examples similar to these might be multiplied. amined in its setting is 1 Peter 2:21: "Even hereunto But perhaps these are adequate to suggest the re- were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, wards in enlarged concepts and more accurate un- leaving us an example, that ye should follow his derstandings that await those who study Bible steps." Standing by itself, this verse says that since verses in simple, literary context. And the horizons Christ suffered, His followers can expect to suffer widen when the historical context also is considered. too. K. H. W. 2 REVIEW AND HERALD, September 7, 1972 prise, and who influence character. It happy to help him call a missionary -Mu Week.— is the work of true education to develop friend by radio. For isolated workers this power, to train the youth to be ham radio provides the same kind of In discussing the parable of the tal- thinkers, and not mere reflectors of security that the telephone does for ents, Ellen White says: "The question other men's thought. Instead of confin- those at home. that most concerns us is not, How much ing their study to that which men have said or written, let students be directed Walton J. Brown, an associate secre- have I received? but, What am I doing tary of the GC Department of Educa- with that which I have? The develop- to the sources of truth."—Education, p. 17. tion, this week begins a series (page 14) Ment of all our powers is the first duty on his recent itinerary through parts of Dr. Loveless pleads that adults work- we owe to God and to our fellow men. Europe and Africa, inspecting SDA ing with young minds should strive No one who is not growing daily in schools. Readers will be interested in to develop the God-given individuality capability and usefulness is fulfilling the educational developments in those areas of each child. Their preparation for purpose of life."—Christ's Object Les- of the world. sons, pp. 329, 330. real-life problem solving, decision mak- This kind of statement puts an extra ing, and conceptualizing will give them If you failed to get the gist of the responsibility on the one who works a better start toward reaching God's title of the August 24 Editor's View- with children and young people, who ideal. point, "Brethren in America . - Wake are just beginning to discover their Up!" there was a good reason. We offer This week we publish the 1972 Call here our apologies and our explana- abilities and interests. Often at home List of SDA Amateur Radio Operators and in school, children are measured tion. (page 16). Perhaps some readers wonder From the latter part of July till the by an arbitrary standard, labeled, and what justification we can find for the poured into whatever mold is necessary first part of September the editor was publishing of a list of hobbyists. away from the office visiting camp meet- to produce models of the arbitrary The fact is that amateur radio is standard. ings and meeting other appointments playing an increasingly helpful role in in California. It is to this situation that Edna Maye Adventist mission work. Because the During his absence, when the Editor's Loveless, who holds a doctorate from church has such an extensive mission Viewpoint was adjusted to fit the space the University of Maryland, addresses program, amateur radio has become a allotted for it, the Ellen White quota- herself this week.

Load more