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To serve and honour Thee',
for it is the Truth that makes us free (John 8:32), even as failure to
acknowledge the Truth puts one in fetters (2 Tim. 2:25,26), (see
Acknowledge1). Moreover, while all things may be lawful for Christ's
freeman, liberty must never become synonymous with licence (Gal. 5:13).
Garrison.
'In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the
Damascenes with a garrison' (2 Cor. 11:32).
While this passage is of great moment in the life story of Paul, it is
of no direct doctrinal significance here, the only reason for its inclusion
in this analysis is its employment in Philippians where we read:
'And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
(keep as a garrison of soldiers) your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus' (Phil. 4:7).
For fuller consideration of this passage, see Peace7.
Genealogy. First under this heading we will consider the 'Generations' set
out in Genesis. The actual word 'generation' occurs eleven times in the book
of Genesis, and the structure of the book conforms to the distribution of the
term. The following transcript from The Companion Bible (p. 1) makes this
aspect of the subject quite clear:
Extended Alternation and Introversion
A
The heavens and the earth (2:2 to 4:26).
B
Adam (5:1 to 6:8).
Mankind
C
Noah (6:9 to 9:29).
in
D
The Sons of Noah (10:1 to 11:9).
General.
E
Shem (11:10 -26).
F Terah (11:27 to 25:11).
A
Ishmael (25:12 -18).
B
Isaac (25:19 to 35 :29).
The
C
Esau (36:1 -8).
Chosen
D
The sons of Esau (36:9 -43).
people.
E
Jacob (37:1 to 50:26).
Throughout the Scriptures it will be found that a structure places in
correspondence items of truth that either echo each other, or expand and
expound that which is unexpressed in the original corresponding number. If
this is so, must we not ask as we look at the structure quoted above, what
fellowship is there between A The heavens and the earth, and A Ishmael? How
does 'Esau' expand, expound or echo anything said of 'Noah'? Again, is it
correct to bracket together under the heading, 'The Chosen People' both
Ishmael and Isaac? or Esau and his sons? While it is true that the word
'generations' occurs eleven times in Genesis, it is of the utmost importance
that we do not allow this fact to obscure the presence of many other