The Berean Expositor Acts xvii. 10, 11 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” II Tim. ii. 15 VOLUME XXXII. 1942 - 44 The Berean Publishing Trust, 52a, Wilson Street, London EC2A 2ER. U.K. DEAR FRIENDS IN CHRIST, It is three years since we wrote a Foreword to a completed Volume: three years of war, destruction and anxiety, yet three years of wonderful preservation, guidance and provision. A passage of Scripture that comes vividly to mind in this connection is that of Acts xxvi. 22: “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing . .” Although the “help” was “of God”, Paul acknowledged that it had been mediated through many willing hands and hearts. The word “help” in this passage is a military term and means an auxiliary or reserve ready to hand when needed. Without this “help of God” The Berean Expositor would never have weathered the storm, and our thanks go out, under God, to the willing and ready “help” extended to us in our hour of need. Without this “help of God” the Chapel of the Opened Book would never have been found, nor would the removal from the country to stricken London have been attempted, or have been possible. In 1941 we wrote: “. we have confidence that in so far as The Berean Expositor is in line with the will of the Lord, so we may expect that these precious promises will be once more fulfilled in our experience.” This confidence has been honoured beyond our expectation. We asked for bare continuance, and He has led us through fire and water and has brought us out “into a wealthy place” (Psa. lxvi. 12). We commend the witness to the prayers and the fellowship of all who value the Word and its “right division”, and who realize what a door of opportunity may be opening to us all with the coming year. Yours for Christ and His Word, CHARLES H. WELCH, PHILIP DIVE, FREDERICK P. BRININGER November, 1944. I N D E X ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, THE-- From Jerusalem to Rome—Paul’s opening Speech (xxii. 1-22) 12 Paul’s defence before the Council (xxiii. 1-35) 16 Paul before Felix and Festus (xxiv. and xxv.) 21 Paul before Festus and Agrippa (xxv. and xxvi.) 27 From Cæsarea to Melita (xxvii.) 33 From Melita to Rome (xxviii. 1-22) 38 Paul’s relation with Israel during Acts attested (xxviii. 17-22) 44 EPHESIA-- Christ Jesus, the Exalted (Eph. i. 1) 49 The preposition “dia” (Eph. i. 1) 51 Will (Eph. i. 1) 52 God (Eph. i. 1) 53 The Greek article (Eph. i. 1) 55 Saint (Eph. i. 1) 56 EPHPHATHA, OR BE OPENED-- The unveiled eye: To see without distortion 58 The opened mouth: For praise and testimony 60 The opened heart: Most important of all 62 FRUITS OF FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES-- The Scriptures an entity: to be accepted or rejected as a whole 64 A quest for ultimate value 67 FUNDAMENTALS OF DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH-- ISAIAH: Without form and void (xxxii. and xxxiv.) 72 ISAIAH: The ransom of the Lord shall return (xxxv.) 77 ISAIAH: The relation of History, Archæology and Prophecy (xxxvi. - xxxix.) 83 ISAIAH: Sennacherib’s threat and his destruction (xxxvi. and xxxvii.) 87 ISAIAH: Hezekiah’s testing under favour and flattery (xxxviii. and xxxix.) 91 ISAIAH: An introductory study of xl. - xlvi. 95 GOSPEL OF JOHN, THE-- The marriage at Cana (ii. 1-12) 101 JERUSALEM: The temple cleansed (ii. 13-23) 107 JERUSALEM: The new birth (ii. 24 - iii. 12) 111 JERUSALEM: The Son of man which is in heaven (iii. 13) 119 JERUSALEM: Aionian life (iii. 13-21) 122, 127, 131 IN ALL THEIR AFFLICTION, HE WAS AFFLICTED 135 MYSTERY MANIFESTED, THE-- The Mystery of Christ 143 Mystery, Marriage and Manifestation 145 The unfettered word of a chained Ambassador 146 A ministry of suffering 149 The Mystery among the Gentiles 152 The Mystery of God - Christ 153 God was manifested in the flesh 155 OUR WITNESS 5 PEARL OF PARABLES, THE-- The Parable of the Father (Luke xv. 11-32) 8 PULPIT OF THE OPENED BOOK, THE-- A pulpit with a purpose (Neh. viii. 4) 162 A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Eccles. iv. 12) 165 God hath spoken (Heb. i. 1) 167 The inspired Book 170 SELF-DRAWN PORTRAIT OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE-- Earnest indignation 172 Fervid patriotism 174 Generosity 176 THREE SPHERES OF BLESSING 178 TIMOTHY, THE SECOND EPISTLE TO-- A threefold exhortation: Be not ashamed (i. 8-18) 204 Power for those who partake of gospel afflictions (i. 8) 207 Before the “age times” and “now” (i. 9, 10) 210 Light on life and immortality (i. 10-12) 214 The good deposit (i. 12-14) 220 A ministry of refreshing (i. 15-18) 225 TITLES OF SCRIPTURE, SOME-- The Word of God 228 The Word of Truth 228 The Scripture 229 TOOLS FOR THE UNASHAMED WORKMAN-- The history of the Concordance 230 TRUST-- A sevenfold aspect 9 WAITING ON THE LORD-- The waiting upon God that waits respectfully “for” Him 234 The waiting upon God that waits confidently 235 The waiting upon God that waits in hope 236 The waiting upon God that waits in service 237 WAR IN HEAVEN-- The objects before the enemy: Dominion and Worship 238 Types of the usurpation 240 The typical character of the Canaanite 242 The conquest of Canaan 244 Our Witness. pp. 97 - 99 “While valuing the fellowship of like-minded believers, THE BEREAN EXPOSITOR will continue untrammeled. It is the organ of no society, it is the property of no sect, it is the exponent of no creed. It is a searcher of Scripture.” THE BEREAN EXPOSITOR was first published in February, 1909, and five years later, namely in 1914, also in June, 1927, the words quoted above were included in the Foreword to the reprints of Volume I. It is evident as we read these words, that whilst fellowship is valued, and perhaps greatly needed, for no consideration would that fellowship be purchased at the price of faithfulness. Neither THE BEREAN EXPOSITOR nor the Editor could be deflected from the set purpose which called the Witness into being. To-day in 1943, The Berean Expository Witness is still untrammeled, its principal exponent calls no man Master, no Council decides what shall be expounded and what shall not. To what “Society” does THE BEREAN EXPOSITOR belong to-day? Of what “Sect” is it the mouthpiece? What “Creed” finds it an exponent? In 1921, after many set-backs resulting from the “Great War”, a modest notice appeared in the March number (Volume XI, page 48). “Good-Friday, 25th March.—A meeting conducted by the Editor will (D.V.) be held at 7p.m. in the Small Class-room at ECCLESTON HALL, near Victoria Station, London. Those attending should knock at the far door in Eccleston Place.” As an outcome of this meeting, the regular Witness in London was recommenced, although we no longer had to “knock at the far door” to gain admittance. Following the growth of the Witness and consequent opposition, it became necessary in 1922 (Volume XII, page 45) to publish a short article entitled: “The Fear of Forming a Sect”, to meet some unfounded rumours that were spoiling this opportunity to obey the Lord and His Word. This article opened as follows: “Some of the Lord’s people who feel the need of fellowship with other fellow-members have expressed hesitation to put their desires into operation, fearing that by so doing they would be forming ‘another Sect’. It is well to retain a tender conscience over all our actions, but at the same time we must not allow an unscriptural fancy to prevent us fulfilling what may be a scriptural desire.” * * * * * * * “Hairesis = sect, is derived from haireomai = to chose (Phil. i. 22; II Thess ii. 13; Heb. xi. 25). The scriptural idea of a sect is ‘self-choice’, and is a work of the flesh (Gal. v. 20; I Cor. xi. 19 heresies). A company of believers seeking to manifest their union with one another and with the risen Lord cannot be guilty of forming ‘another sect’ by so doing. Should unscriptural practices, leaders, or ideas be allowed, these departures would merit the undesired title, and it is these ‘self-choosings’ we must shun.” The meetings thus criticized continued, and their number grew, yet in 1924 we were as far as ever from forming a “Sect”, for the Foreword written for Volume XIV will be found this reassertion of freedom: “We are happy to say concerning The Berean Expositor exactly the same as we said ten years ago, viz., that it is:-- The organ of NO SOCIETY, The property of NO SECT, The exponent of NO CREED.” The fear express in 1921/1922 had not materialized even though the opportunities increased. In 1927 a new note was struck, for the Foreword of that year says: “Now that the long period of pioneering has in measure passed,” and although this might have caused in some that recurring fear, no word reached us, and the change as it took place made no difference in the basic attitude of the Witness, the change being only of method and opportunity. In the notice pages of that year we not only find meetings arranged in many parts of the country, but an indication of the Editor’s visit to Canada to make known the truth entrusted. This involved organization both at home and abroad, funds had to be handled and accounted for, but still that “Sect” failed to materialize, neither did the Editor become “involved” or “fettered”.