devotion of precious space and time to the type of criticism here dealt with

be to edification.  Every reader should take each of our critic's points as

though they were personal to themselves, and then, as true Bereans, `search

and see'.  We should then have no fears as to the result.

Understanding.  In the article entitled Interpretation2 we have discussed the

question of `meaning' and suggested a few rules to guide in the

interpretation of Scripture.  It may not come amiss if we devote one short

article to the question of understanding, especially as we note in 2 Timothy

2:3 -7, that the apostle speaks of this particularly in the approach to

dispensational truth.

Turning to 2 Timothy 2, we discover that after using the figures

`soldier', `athlete', and `husbandman', he urges Timothy to consider (2:7);

remember (2:8) and study (2:15).  Anything therefore that will help us to be

a better `workman' should be gladly considered.  Let us note the passage:

`Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all

things' (2 Tim. 2:7 R.V.).

We have followed the R.V. here because the best texts read dosei

(future), `he shall give', instead of doe, as in the A.V.  The word

translated `consider' is noeo, which is generally translated `understand'.

Again we have to record that this word occurs fourteen times in the New

The reader should observe that Timothy was called upon to use his

`mind', noeo and told that the Lord would give him understanding, sunesis.

There is an important lesson here.  The `mind', or nous, is the organ of

mental perception.

`The nous takes cognizance of external objects, and denotes the

reasoning faculty.  Its chief material organ is the brain, but all the senses

serve it actively and passively.  Nous is the human side of God's spirit in

man; as to its source, it is spirit; as to its action in man for intellectual

purposes it is mind, i.e.  the product of the spirit' (Dr. E. W. Bullinger's

The nous in man has been impaired by the fall (Eph. 4:17,18), but the

believer in Christ has experienced a renewing of its spirit (Eph. 4:23).

Let us not hurry over this, for it is of great importance.  There are

so many who decry `reason', as though `faith' could ever be irrational or

believe anything that was not `right', but if God has renewed the spirit of

the mind, it is in order that the believer should use it to His glory.

The following diagram would find little favour with a psychologist, and

does not pretend to be an accurate presentation of the human mind; but at the

same time it