the so -called immortality of the soul, such a doctrine is entirely absent

from the Scriptures, and repugnant to all its teaching.

Immortality is a negative term.  No one could have been called the

UNcircumcision until the days of Abraham, and the word IMmortality would

never have been employed had sin not entered into the world, and death by

sin.  Soma, 'body' is used six times in connection with resurrection.  'How

are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come?' (1 Cor. 15:35)

leads on to the references to immortality in that chapter.  2 Corinthians

5:4, Romans 6:12 and 8:11 speak of 'mortal bodies' and 2 Corinthians 4:11 of

'mortal flesh'.  The mortal body finds its answer in the immortality provided

in resurrection only, and no other immortality is spoken of in the

Scriptures.  'Thanks be unto God Who giveth us the victory'.

See Account (p. 2).

How were the Scriptures written?  How did they come?

Paul supplies an

answer to the first question, and Peter to the second:

'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God' (2 Tim. 3:16).

'Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost' (2 Pet.

How Was Scripture Given? -- 'By inspiration of God'.

How Did Scripture Come? -- 'Holy men ... were moved by the Holy Ghost'.

Let us give earnest heed to these statements and examine them in the

light of their contexts.  Both are the utterances of men in view of death,

and there is a suitable solemnity about the two epistles containing them that

pervades their whole doctrine:

'The time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I

have finished my course, I have kept the faith' (2 Tim. 4:6,7).

'Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus

Christ hath shewed me' (2 Pet. 1:14).

Thus, on the eve of martyrdom, both Paul and Peter give unambiguous

testimony to the absolutely divine origin of the Scriptures.  How, then, can

we hope to finish our course, keep the faith, entertain the hope of a crown,

or a 'well done' if we deny or trifle with the Scriptures held so dear by

these two servants of the Lord?

'From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to

make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for

doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished

unto all good works' (2 Tim. 3:15 -17).