BIBLE STUDIES " Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so" (Acts 17. 11). PRIESTS AND PRIESTHOOD and Notes on FIRST and SECOND EPISTLES to the CORINTHIANS and GALATIANS VOLUME 30 Published by NEEDED TRUTH PUBLISHING OFFICE ASSEMBLY HALL, GEORGE LANE, HAYES, BROMLEY, KENT Printed in England by lames Harwood Ltd., Derby. ii. CONTENTS Page STUDY SUBJECT: PRIESTS AND PRIESTHOOD: The first Mention of priestly Work: Lot, Abram, Melchizedek.. 6 The Need for a Priesthood on behalf of Men 24 The Order of Melchizedek: in what sense is Melchizedek " made like unto the Son of God " 38 (a) The Order of Aaron: The Place given to Genealogy (b) The Significance of the References in Hebrews to Aaron and his Service, though the Lord's Priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek 55 Priests by Law, and a Priest by the Word of the Oath.... 71 The Idolatry of the Golden Calf; its effect upon Israel as a Kingdom of Priests and upon the Priesthood of Aaron.... 87 The earthly and the heavenly Sanctuaries and their Cleansing.. 101 The Contrast between the Sacrifices of the Law and Sacrifice of Christ 118 Examples of Functions manward.......... 134 The Lord's priestly Service on behalf of the People of God .. 151 The Entrance of the Lord and of the People of God into the Holies: the Throne of Grace 165 The Difference between the Lord's Melchizedek Priesthood and the Priesthood of the People of God 181 Aaron, The Sons of 99, 148 Age (Aion) and on Ages (Atones), Remarks on 146 Dibrah .. 53 Editorial.... 1, 17, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97, 113, 129, 145, 161, 177 Fellow—Thy Fellows, My 116 Great High Priest, Our 164 High Priest 70 High Priest, Our Great 164 High Priest, Such a 150 Idolatrous Priests 37 Kohan 23 Kohen.................... 5 Notes on Epistles: 1 Corinthians 2, 18, 34, 50, 66, 82, 98, 114 2 Corinthians 13, 31, 46 Galatians 62, 78, 95, 111, 126, 142, 159, 175, 187 Priesthood of the Lord, The 180 Questions and Answers 12, 45, 62, 94, 109, 174, 187 Shaphan, Shaphan the Scribe, and their Descendants 178 Shechem 131 Sons of Aaron, The 99, 143 Word Study: Church, Assembly, Congregation, Synagogue.... 86 " World " (Kosmos), Remarks on the 152 BIBLE STUDIES " Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so " (Acts 17. 11). VOLUME 30 JANUARY, 1962 EDITORIAL We hope we shall be excused if we use our page this month to deal with a few practical matters that have become more significant on account of the nature of the current syllabus. The references in the syllabus are very brief, and are intended as a guide as to the scope of the subject for each month. As the subject is one which calls lor much patient meditation, it will prove very helpful if the passages are committed to memory at the outset of each month's study. This will enable us to take full advantage of every available opportunity to recall the words of scripture and to ponder upon them—" instant in season, out of season " (2 Timothy 4. 2). We may thus find ourselves directed to the detailed study of certain matters which we might otherwise have overlooked. The overlap in the references calls for remark. If we are to make each month's study as profitable as possible, it will be necessary to keep to the topic named and not broaden the issue too much. For example, Hebrews 7. 1-3 is prescribed for January and Hebrews 7 for March; consequently there is the temptation to broaden the treatment of the subject for January to include much that strictly belongs to the subject for March. If this additional matter is fully relevant, all is in order. But if it is largely irrele- vant, we may quite unnecessarily deprive ourselves (and others) of subject matter for March, or we may cause much repetition with little profit. There is a more serious objection; the subject for January may not get a full treatment, because time and effort that should have been spent in an endeavour to probe deeply into it will have been given to the subject for March. This applies to other parts of the syllabus also. We feel, therefore, that we must emphasize the need for definite relevance. Some may object to this insistence on strict relevance on the ground that they may not find much to write upon. But if we desire to make progress in gathering a deeper understanding of the word of God, we should bear in mind that intensive search and re-search may, with the blessing of God, lead to very heartening and rewarding results. Even if the resulting papers are shorter, this need not perturb us, for it will leave room for others. We are definitely anxious to have more assemblies participating. Contri- butors should bear in mind two things: it is not always the longest papers that contain most good matter, and also, the amount published is not to be taken as a measure of the quality of the paper. The subject for 1962 is not an easy one, but it is one that rightly claims a prominent place in our thoughts and meditations, for a true appreciation of the Priesthood of the Lord Jesus will, in God's goodness, heighten the joy of those that worship the Father in spirit and in truth. J. B. 2 NOTES ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12 Verses 23, 24: And those parts of the body, which we think to be less honour- able, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked; The human body has what we think to be parts that are less honour- able, yet " upon these, " says Paul, " we bestow more abundant honour. " The comely parts have no need of being made more comely. Even so there are members of the Body of Christ whose gifts are of the lesser sort, and whose path is more lowly than that of more highly endowed members. Hence the lesson would be that upon these lowly folks more attention should be paid than upon those whose gift brings them more into prominence. God has tempered the body together (tempered, Sugker- annumi, to mingle together, to blend with, to join in such a manner as that one part or ingredient may qualify another). Verses 25, 26: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. God tempered the body together that there should be no schism (division or rent) in the body. The human body is one organic whole, all the members being perfectly set in their places by God, and so perfectly adjusted as mutually to serve each other and serve the whole body. Con- sequently the members have the same care for one another This is a most elementary lesson, yet a very profound one, when the parable of the human body is applied to the Body of Christ. It is impossible for one part of the human body to be divided from the rest and left uncared for. This would mean death for that part. Thus when one member suffers all the members suffer with it. Its pain is their pain. We all understand this from experience. Also, when one member is honoured, such as, say, the putting an engagement ring on a lady's finger, all the other members of her body rejoice with the honour done to that finger, for it is done to the whole. The arguments of Paul in this whole passage are to emphasize the truth of the organic unity of the members of Christ who are joined to Him in one Body. Verse 27: Now ye are the Body of Christ, and severally members thereof. What is Paul's meaning here ? Is he saying that the saints in the church of God in Corinth are the Body of Christ to the exclusion of the saints in all the other churches of God elsewhere ? Certainly he is not! Again, is it necessary to be in a church of God to be in the Body of Christ ? Certainly it is not! Why? Because a believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ the moment he is born again, as see what happened to Cornelius and his company in Acts 10. 44, 45. It says, " While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. " This is the normal way in which the Holy Spirit is given throughout the dispensation, as see John 7. 37-39. No one can be in a church of God who is not baptized in water NOTES ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 3 (Matthew 28. 18-20; Acts 2. 41, 42), and that takes place some time after Christ has baptized the believer in one Spirit into the one Body; then it is some little time after that before the person is added together with those who are already in a church of God.