the passage before us. This meant that much that had been put forward both by ourselves

and others had to be scrapped, and the work commenced afresh. This is the reason why

the reader does not find in the structural outlines submitted in the Berean Expositor mere

copies of those in any other work. Where they coincide with the findings of others, it is a

confirmation for which we are thankful.  Where they differ, it will be discovered

generally that the structure of the Berean Expositor adheres to the actual wording of the

passage (using of course the original in every case), whereas the structure that is

discarded has employed merely conceived headings.

As the Berean Expositor has been published for fifty years, the Editor feels that the

method recommended has stood the test of time, and knows that in most cases the results

are self evident and useful.

How is a structure of any given passage discovered? We have often been asked the

question, but our answers have not given much satisfaction. Few structures of any

importance can be discovered apart from protracted study and concentrated effort. There

is no short cut. If the subject be a whole book, then the whole book must be read and

re-read until the mind is able to hold in suspense the varying items, and until the eye of

the mind perceives the disposition of parts. Occasionally the whole matters is settled by

the presence of key words, as the whole central member of Galatians is determined by the

words `by nature' (Gal. 2: 15 and 4: 8).

How does one feel sure that a jig-saw puzzle is accurately fitted together? It is self

evident, and so should the structure be. Any sense of forcing or distortion should be

suspected. After all we do not want `structures' for their own sake, but truth, and so

nothing but the truth in the structure can be tolerated.

Further, just as we say "Columbus discovered America", and not "Columbus invented

America", so the student should remember that in seeking the structure of any passage he

is simply looking for what is there, clues given by God, the underlinings of the Holy

Spirit, and is not inventing an outline, however attractive such inventions may be.

In concluding this series we give a few guiding principles.

(1) Never build a doctrine upon a text which is debateable either for its authenticity

or because of its obscurity.

We do not expect our readers to pose as Textual Critics, but it is common knowledge

with all intelligent readers of the Scriptures that some readings are doubtful.  For

example, whether one be a Trinitatiran or a Unitarian, one must agree with the R.V. in