PERFECTION

PERDITION

OR

The typical happenings to Israel in the wilderness foreshadowed the state of things that would be true at the end,

and the Corinthians were living at the time of the end, for so the Scripture of their calling and dispensation declares.

The Jews divided all time into three great ages: (1) Before the law; (2) Under the law; (3) After the law. The age

after the law they naturally thought of as the Millennium, not knowing that the elective period, when Gentiles were

being called, must also be reckoned with.

What are we to understand by this expression? It is usually taken to mean just what the A.V. says. The word `to

put away' in the original is athetesis from atheteo. Let us examine the usage of these words; we shall then have

positive evidence, and moreover the reader will be made independent of the opinions of others.

Mark 6:26.

`Reject her'.

Mark 7.9.

`Full well ye reject the commandment',

Luke 7:30.

`Rejected the counsel of God', margin

`frustrated'.

Luke 10:16.

`He that despiseth' (four times).

John 12:48.

`He that rejecteth Me'.

1 Corinthians 1:19. `I will bring to nothing the under standing'.

Galatians 2:21.

`I do not frustrate the grace of God'.

Galatians 3:15.

`No man disannulleth'.

1 Thessalonians 4:8. `He therefore that despiseth' (twice), margin'

1 Timothy 5:12.

`Have cast off their first faith'.

Hebrews 10:28.

`He that despised Moses' law'.

Jude 8.

`These ... despise dominion'.

We believe that no one after pondering this list of occurrences can avoid the conclusion that atheteo means `to

set aside' or `to annul' as a covenant or a commandment. The word occurs 57 times in the LXX, and in order that

no phase of the meaning should be left unconsidered we have consulted every reference. We cannot spare the space

to give them here, and it is not necessary. Every occurrence deals either with rebellion, treachery or the setting aside

of covenant obligations. Indeed, in one of the cases the word stands alone, the word covenant being implied. The

same remarks are true also of athetema (LXX) and athetesis.

Athetesis, this word actually occurring in Hebrews 9:26, occurs nowhere else but in Hebrews 7:18. There the

passage is rendered:

`For there is verily a DISANNULLING of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God'.

Chapter 7 is dealing with the failure of Israel's priesthood; the law concerning priesthood `perfected nothing'.

Only in the virtue of a `better hope' can any draw nigh unto God. Chapter 9:19-28 is dealing with the failure of

Israel's sacrifices; the law concerning sacrifices was a shadow and could not `perfect' those who drew nigh. Only in

the virtue of a `better sacrifice' can any draw nigh to God. The parallel is complete. Moreover both sections deal

with the removal and failure of the Old Covenant:

A 7:18.

The setting aside (athetesis) of the commandment

concerning the priests.

B 8:8.

Finding fault with the first Covenant.

The setting aside (athetesis) of the sin offering.

Taking away the first Covenant.