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Truth in the Balance.
#11. An examination of several books of the New Testament in
which "balance" is an integral factor in true interpretation.
pp. 56 - 58
We have put a number of the doctrines of Scripture into the scales, and found that
truth is whole when truth is balanced, but when truth is not put into the scales it can
easily be perverted. The reader of The Berean Expositor cannot read many of its pages
without realizing that this element of balance plays an important part in our arrival at the
truth of an epistle, a book, a passage or the whole purpose of the ages. From the vast
outline of the age purpose commencing with Gen. 1: 1 and ending with I Cor. 15: 28
(which we have considered in Nos.2 and 3 of this series), to the "one word" quoted by
Paul from Isa. 6: (Acts 18: 25-27) this balance and correspondence is discoverable,
and a judicious use of it is an all important factor in interpretation. Let us take a few
examples, most of them known to the reader, but which if brought together in one article
may prove a demonstration that cannot be denied.
Let us apply this principle of balance to the Gospel according the Matthew, the Acts
of the Apostles, the epistles to the Ephesians and to the Hebrews, and while avoiding
anything like fullness of detail let us note the outstanding features which most clearly
testify to the value of this method of study.
MATTHEW.
ITS TWOFOLD TIME NOTE.
1st half of the Gospel.
2nd half of the Gospel.
"From that time Jesus began to
"From that time began Jesus Christ to show
preach and to say, Repent; for the
unto His disciples, how that He must suffer
kingdom of heaven is at hand" (4: 17).
many things of the elders and chief priests . . . . .
and be killed--and the third day be raised up"
(16: 21 R.V. margin).
"And lo, a voice from heaven,
"And behold a voice out of the cloud, which
saying, `This is My beloved Son, in
said, `This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am
Whom I am well pleased" (3: 17).
well pleased; hear ye Him" (17: 5).
Without the addition of any further material, it is evident that the references given,
clearly indicate that the Gospel according to Matthew falls into two distinct portions, and
when this is recognized, no scheme of interpretation will be acceptable that does not give
full place to this inspired subdivision.
We turn next to that most important book, the Acts of the Apostles, and once again, by
observing the balance of its parts, we are compelled to recognize that the book is
practically an account of and a comparison of two ministries, those of Peter and Paul.