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"To sanctify" gathers up the words "cleanse", "purify", "make reconciliation"
which are found in the A.V. Old Testament. Here then we reach a simple issue:--
(1). The Piel form of chata = "sin" should be translated "purify", "cleanse", "make
reconciliation", "sanctify". This is our position.
(2). "The Piel form of sin IS NOT PURIFY, BUT MAKE SIN." This is the
teaching that we have criticized and which we repudiate, for it is an unqualified
denial of Heb. 9: 13, 14.
For our position we have the solid ground of the Word of God as given in Heb. 9: 13.
For the other position we have the quicksand of human deductions and laws. As this
teaching must be held in spite of the express statement of Heb. 9: 13, we have nothing
more to do than to repudiate it. We make no aspersions, we do not pretend to analyse the
intentions of others, that is not our office.
The fact that we turned from the Greek word "sin" to the Hebrew apparently had the
appearance of "policy". It was the outworking of a "principle" adopted by us for some
time. This, however, we must explain at some future time.
*** p. 191
A Correction. (*** The Acid Test).
We regret that a mistake occurred in the article on page 173 of the November issue,
which we desire to rectify: instead of reading:--
"The ashes of the heifer . . . . . a purification for sin" (Num. 19: 9).
read:--
"He shall purify himself" (Num. 19: 19).
Verses 17-21 should be read together in order to see the context.
This correction is necessary owing to the limitation of the references to the Piel form.
All the references quoted from Num. 19: are various forms of the one Hebrew word
chata, and must be read together.