From time to time, as new readers are added, it becomes necessary that a word should

be given so that the beginner in these studies may not feel himself quite unprovided for.

We feel it unnecessary, we are thankful to say, to elaborate the first great fundamental,

namely, the absolute inspiration of the original Scriptures, an inspiration extending to the

very words and letters. We cannot conceive of any who deny the inspiration of Scripture

finding much to their liking in The Berean Expositor. The fundamental that we would

lay before the reader just now is contained in II Tim. 2: 15, "rightly dividing the Word

of truth."

Accepting the Scripture as the Word of truth, we must exercise reference to the

varying dispensations under which man has been placed. What was true under the

dispensation of Law, may be false under the dispensation of Grace. One has only to read

such epistles as Romans, or Galatians, to realize how true this is. The differences also

that are mentioned as found under the Old Covenant and the New, are emphasized in the

epistle to the Hebrews, and II Cor. 3: & 4: The teaching of the Gospel according to

Matthew, with its emphasis upon the gospel of the kingdom of the heavens, is entirely

different from the gospel say of the Epistle to the Ephesians. The presence and service of

miraculous gifts, as recorded in the Gospels, the Acts, and the early Epistles of Paul, and

the absence of such gifts in his prison ministry, demonstrate again the fact that under

different dispensations God has been pleased to deal with men in different ways. The

hopes of varying periods, too, differ in important details. The hope of Israel was centred

in the Personal presence on the earth of the Messiah, and vitally connected with the

throne of David. The hope of Abraham, and all who, like him, obtained a good report

through faith (see Heb. 11: and Book of Revelation), was connected with "the city

which hath the foundations," "the new Jerusalem, the holy city." The hope of the church

of the one body is, that when "Christ, Who is our life, shall be made manifest, we shall

also be made manifest with Him in glory" (Col. 3: 4).

The various ordinances that were enjoined at different times constitute another witness

to the need for right division. Circumcision was enjoined very emphatically, as also the

keeping of the Sabbath, yet one has only to read Paul's epistles to find a complete and

drastic change.  Baptism in water was once essentially connected with the gospel

proclamation, repentance, and remission of sins. Water baptism, however, does not

constitute a part of the teaching of the Word that relates to the church of the mystery.

The Lord's Supper, with its inseparable link with the New Covenant, has no place in the

dispensation of the mystery.