1955 Bible Studies - page 148

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BIBLE STUDIES

Verse 4:  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our

learning, that through patience and through comfort of the Scriptures we might

have hope.

Confirming the reference he had just made to Psalm 69. 9, regarding the reproaches of Christ, the apostle says that what was written aforetime was written for our learning. How diligently He who is the Divine Word, and

the Divine Wisdom, learned the Scriptures, in His humanity, in His days on earth ! " Morning by morning, " He said, " He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as they that are taught " (disciples, R. V. M. ). In consequence of this He said, " The Lord GOD hath given Me the tongue of them that are taught "

(Isaiah 50. 4). Here is mystery, that " the Wisdom of God " (Luke 11. 49)

" advanced in wisdom " (Luke 2. 52), a mystery, perchance, we shall never understand, but so it was. It is by the Scriptures that we know a little (oh, so little!) of patience (endurance) and comfort (encouragement), and it is by the Scriptures that we have any hope at all. May we be taught of God and learn more of the inestimable worth of Holy Writ !

Verses 5, 6: Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the

same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: that with one accord

ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here the Divine Author of the Scriptures, the God of patience and of comfort, who has imparted to His living word patience and comfort, stands behind His word to implement every prophecy and promise He has given.

Paul desires that this Blessed One would give them to be of one mind one with another, " not necessarily an identity of opinion in all details, but a

community of sympathetic kindness. " This quotation seems to me to convey what the apostle means. Paul wrote somewhat similarly to the Philippians, " Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the

same love, being of one accord, of one mind ; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself " (Philippians 2. 2, 3). The same mind that Paul desires to be

in the Romans is governed by the words, " according to Christ Jesus, "

according to that mind which was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2. 5-11), ever lowly and ever seeking the well-being of others. The object of this unanimity of mind was to find its expression in *4 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. "

Glorious issue and end of being of the same mind, of one accord, and having one mouth !

Verse 7: Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.

The receiving here is the same as in chapter 14. 1, receiving to the

enjoyment of mutual fellowship, for wranglings over meats would drive

fellowship from assembly life. How did Christ receive us ? certainly not to doubtful disputations. He received us as the father received the prodigal of Luke 15, to the enjoyment of the fatted calf and all the other endowments which love bestowed upon the once-lost sinner. Christ received us in a

manner that will ever. redound to the glory of God.

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