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"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Tim. 4: 7).
#8.
The Apostle's Doctrine.
pp. 113 - 115
No.1 of this series shows that John 16: 12-14 indicates the epistles, and
No.2 proves that both gospels and epistles are equally inspired.
No.3 finds "A" bewildered by the many apparent differences which he has discovered by
reading the gospels and the epistles. The solution is found in "rightly dividing"
the Word of truth.
No.4 gives some examples of right division, showing that Scripture is addressed to Jew,
Gentile or Church. Among other examples the epistles of Paul are instanced as
needing to be rightly divided.
No.5 & 6 deal with the distinctive ministry of the apostle Paul, and shows that he was
not one of "the twelve", but set apart as the apostle to the Gentiles.
No.7 shews the two-fold ministry of Paul, and its bearing upon the revealed purpose of
God for the Gentiles.
A.--I have been warned by some to avoid both you and your teaching because you do not,
as did the early church, "continue stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2: 42).
B.--This is certainly a serious charge, but it strikes me as being somewhat biased, for
these very same teachers who are now so zealous for the "apostles' doctrine" did not
spare these same apostles over the appointment of Matthias.
A.--That is so, but possibly this is the exception that proves the rule.
B.--Let us "search and see". After 40 days' instruction from the risen Christ, with special
emphasis upon the teaching of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms concerning the Lord
Himself, and moreover with the inspired statement that these same apostles
UNDERSTOOD these same Scriptures (Luke 24: 45), the "apostles' doctrine" is
expressed in the question which was the outcome of such teaching and such
understanding:--
"When they therefore were come together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at
this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1: 6).
This restoration of the kingdom to Israel we accept as an integral part of the "apostles'
doctrine", those who have the temerity to warn you as to our attitude, have also the
audacity to teach that this question, in spite of its context, is the result of Jewish
prejudice, and that the apostles should, instead, have been found asking about the church!
A.--But may it not be that after the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost the scales would fall
from their eyes?