1933 Bible Studies - page 3

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EDITORIAL.

The present issue marks the beginning of a further stage in the life of our magazine, which for many years has been known as ’’ Young Men’s Corner," and it is our earnest expectation and prayer that it may prove under its new title of ’’ Bible Studies " to be of even greater usefulness as a means by which that word, " comparing spiritual things with spiritual ", may have increased fulfilment. Being as we are so far removed from each other by distance, yet at the same time in the same Fellowship, it is necessary that in the interchange of thought we should have recourse to writing and to the printed page, and though our friends may at times think it both tedious and irksome to commit their thoughts to writing, yet this exercise will well repay them in time to come, for, as an eminent man of letters has said : " Writing makes an accurate man," and as it has been again well said : " The pen is mightier than the sword."  Fellowship, that interchange and snaring things in common, is one of the sweetest things associated with Christian life, and whilst sectarianism like tariff barriers has restricted the free flow of Heaven’s merchandise, yet thankful we are, or ought to be, for that measure of it that there is, and we trust will increase as days go by-Fellowship is the note struck by the apostle in Philippians--" fellowship in the furtherance of the gospel."  All were not ordained of God to be preachers.  Some were to " communicate (to share or have fellowship) unto him that teacheth in all good things " (Galatians 6. 6), while with others it was to be " woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel " (1 Corinthians 9. 16).  In caring for oxen God cared for men, for, said He, " Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."  Note the force of " when."  There amidst the abun-dance of the fruit God had given to his master, the ox could eat while he wrought, and surely, " if a man will not work, neither let him eat."

The Philippians thought of that strong ox in Rome and sent him provender which brought back the acknowledgment in the epistle under consideration ; and which was the greater--the gift by Epaphro-ditus to the Apostle or the letter he brought back from the Apostle ?

The gift served its purpose in the Apostle’s temporal need, but the inspired letter remains as food for the heart of God’s people for all time.

Sowing carnal things meant reaping spiritual, as sowing to the Spirit results in reaping eternal life.

Whilst fellowship is associated in Philippians 1. with the further-ance of the gospel, it is viewed in 2 Corinthians 8. and 9. in association with ministering to the necessities of the saints.  But in 1 Corinthians 1. 9 the Fellowship into which we are called stands contrasted with the evils of sectarianism. The Fellowship of His Son could not continue to exist if torn by division and if its fellows were segregated into parties by preferment for men or preferment for some particular narrow or even distorted view of a part or parts of Holy Scripture.  " That ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment "

describes the very essence of that Fellowship into which we have been called, as do the words, viewing the matter from another point of view :

" The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own ; but they had all things common " (Acts 4. 32).  What a balance of thought is here !--" which he possessed " ; he owned some things, but he did not say they were his own.  The day we state (to