1927 Young Mens Corner - page 1

YOUNG MEN’S CORNER.

No. 1.

Eighth Series.

January, 1927.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

The Letter to the Romans 1. 1-17 (Section I.).:--Papers from Glasgow, Atherton, Barrow-in-Furness, London, SE., Paisley, Portsmouth, Liverpool and Birkenhead, and Mr. J. Miller 1

Comments by J.H 8

Question and Answer:--From Barrow-in-Furness 8

Financial Statement 8

SECTION I.--ROMANS 1. 1-17.

From GLASGOW.--We would suggest that the Epistle to the Romans, usually placed about the year 58 A.D., was written from Corinth.  From Acts 19. 21 we find that at Ephesus the Apostle had the desire to go through Macedonia and Achaia, thence to Jerusalem, and after that to Rome.  " But now " of Romans 15.

25, we suggest, finds its time and place at this juncture.  Further, the commendation of Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, the Port of Corinth, included in the epistle, helps materially to confirm the above suggestion of the letter being written from Corinth.  [Further interesting evidence is found in Romans 16. 23, where " the city " suggests a capital (viz., Corinth), in close proximity to the last mentioned place--Cen-chreae verse 1.--Compare also " Gaius " (verse 23) and 1 Cor-inthians 1. 14--^if the same person, the Apostle’s host, was a dweller at Corinth.  Note, too, the Apostle’s companions--" Timothy, Sosipater, and Erastus," Romanst 16. 21, 23, and com-pare Acts 19. 22, and Acts 20. 3, 4.]

It is evident that the Apostle had never been to Rome, but he writes to assure the saints there that, in the will of God, his desire is to be among them shortly.  With what joy he looked forward to that day when he would see them face to face, and bestow on them some spiritual gift!  Yet humbly he expresses the hope that there might be a mutual comforting in a mutual faith.

The subject of " some spiritual gift " provided interesting discussion.  The words " that ye may be established," and the connecting words " that is,’ must not be overlooked.  Could we suggest then that the purpose of Paul was to impart new gifts through the Spirit of God and stir up dormant ones ? [The Apostle speaks of imparting " some spiritual gift," not gifts as is sugges-ted, and this is evidently associated with the prospective ministry of the Apostle to the saints in Rome.--J.M.]  That there were gifts in Rome we find from chapter 12. 6, but the Apostle’s desire was to impart those gifts which were lacking that the church might be stablished.

What a message he had for them!--the Gospel in which God has been pleased to reveal a way whereby man can stand righteous before Him by faith; and this is disclosed to faith.