which called for corresponding greatness of thanksgiving for

the Earth: His spirit being commended into the Father's hands.

God's answer to their prayers on his behalf. Moreover, he trusted

This descension stands in contrast with His ascension ­ "He that

that God would still deliver him. It is clear from II Cor. 5:4 that

descended is the same also that ascended" (v. 10). It refers to His

Paul did not wish for death: for he distinctly says "not for that

descent from heaven in Incarnation, and not to any descent as

we would be unclothed, but clothed upon (i.e. in resurrection and

distinct from that, or from His burial.

"change") that mortality might be swallowed up of life"; not of

But Tradition is only handing down of the Old Serpent's lie

death. This is what he was so "earnestly desiring" (v. 2). True, in

which deceived our first parents. God said, "Thou shalt

Phil. 1:21 some think Paul spoke of death as "gain", but we may

SURELY die" (Gen. 2:17). Satan said "Thou shalt NOT surely

ask, "Whose gain?" The answer is clear, for the whole context

die" (Gen. 3:4). And all Traditionalists and Spiritists agree with

from verses 12-24 shows that Christ and His cause are the

Satan in saying, "There is no such thing as death; it is only life in

subjects to which he is referring; not himself. Paul's

some other form."

imprisonment had turned out to be for "the furtherance of the

Gospel" (v. 12). His death might further it still more, and thus

God speaks of death as an "enemy" (I Cor. 15:26)

prove a "gain" for it. Verse 21 begins with "for" and is given in

Man speaks of it as a friend.

explanation of verse 20.

Hezekiah also had reason to praise God for delivering him

from "the king of terrors". It was "mercy" shown to

Man speaks of it as a gate.

Epaphroditus; it was "a gift" to Paul; it was "love" to Hezekiah.

He says (Isa. 38:17-19):

"Thou hast in love to my soul (i.e. to me) delivered it (i.e. me)

Man speaks of it as a blessing.

from the pit (Heb. Bor, a rock-hewn sepulchre) of corruption.

For thou has cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave

(Heb. Sheol) cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee:

Man speaks of it as a hope.

They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The

living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day".

On the other hand the death of Moses was permitted, for it

Man, strange to say, says the same! and loses no opportunity

was his punishment, therefore, there was no deliverance for him

of seeking such deliverance by using every means in his

though he sought it (Deut. 1:37; 3:23, 27; 4:21, 22; 31:2). Surely

it could have been no punishment if death is not death; but, as is

universally held, the gate of paradise! In Phil. 1:21, death would

In Phil. 2:27 we read that Epaphroditus "was sick unto death;

have been Paul's "gain", for Paul was not on Pisgah, but in

but God had mercy on him". So that it was mercy to preserve

prison; and it would have been a happy issue out of his then

Epaphroditus from death. This could hardly be called "mercy" if

death were the "gate of glory", according to popular tradition.

So effectually has Satan's lie succeeded, and accomplished its

In II Cor. 1:10, 11, it was deliverance of no ordinary kind

purpose that, though the Lord Jesus said "I will come again and

when Paul himself also was "delivered from so great a death"

receive you unto myself", Christendom says, with one voice,