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STUDY V

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW CREATION

The "Living Stones" for the Spiritual Temple--The Nominal vs. the Real New Creation--The "Mystery of God" and the "Mystery of Iniquity"-- Great Antichrist's Organization--The Scriptures Trustworthy-- Freedom Permitted to the World and to Churchianity-- Order out of Confusion--"In Due Time"--"The Ends of the Ages"-- The Vine of the Father's Planting--"The Twelve Apostles of the Lamb"--Paul the Successor of Judas--Number of Apostles Limited to Twelve--The Apostolic Commission--The Apostles' Strong Characters-- The Apostle Paul "Not one Whit Behind" the other Apostles-- The Inspiration of the Twelve--Divine Supervision of the Apostles' Writings--"Upon this Rock Will I Build My Church"--Harmony of the Gospels--Keys of Authority--Apostolic Infallibility--Objections Considered--"One is Your Master"--The True Church is "The Flock of God"--Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers--The Lord's Organization of The New Creation Absolutely Complete--He is Also Its Superintendent--Gifts of the Spirit Ceased with Their Necessity--Unity of the "Faith Once Delivered to the Saints"--Unity of Force, Antichristian --Bishops, Elders, Deacons--True Significance of "Prophet"--Humility Essential to Eldership--Other Necessary Qualifications --Deacons, Ministers, Servants--Teachers in the Church-- Many Should Be Able to Teach--"Be not Many of You Teachers, Brethren"--"Ye Need not That Any Man Teach You"--"Him That Is Taught" and "Him That Teacheth"--Woman's Province in the Church--Women as Fellow-Workers--"Let Her be Covered."

AS THE New Creation will not reach its perfection or completion until the First Resurrection, so its organization will be completed only then. The temple figure illustrates this: as living stones we are now called, or invited to places in the glorious temple, and, as the Apostle explains 1Pe 2:5 ), we come to Jesus, who, as the Father's representative, shapes, chisels, fits and polishes us for places in the glorious Temple of the future--the meeting-place between God and the world. As in the typical temple built by Solomon every

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stone was thoroughly fitted in the quarry for its place in the building, so with us--all the fitting preparation is done in the present life. As in the type every shaped stone went into its place without the sound of a hammer, so in the antitype --the living stones, which now submit joyfully to the Lord's preparation, will be completely organized under himself as the capstone when united to him beyond the veil--without confusion, without need of further arrangement or preparation.

However, the Scriptures recognize a oneness or relationship of these living stones during the period of their preparation. Indeed, they go a step further, and recognize a temporary organization which permits each member of the prospective Kingdom to be a sharer with the great Teacher and Master Builder in the preparatory work of "building up one another in the most holy faith"--assisting one another in the shaping of characters in accord with the lines of the pattern--our Lord Jesus. As we proceed to a minute examination of the divine arrangements for the present time, it may surprise many to discover how much liberty the Lord has left to each individual member of the New Creation: but when we recognize the fact that he is seeking willing worshipers, willing sacrificers, who are prompted by love for the Lord and for the principles of righteousness to lay down their lives for the brethren's sake, and for the sake of being colaborers with him, then it is clear that the Lord's plan of granting great liberty is the best plan--the one which most surely tests the heart-loyalty, most fully develops character, and proves the willingness of each to follow with the other the Law of Love, doing to the other as he would the other should do to him.

Such a liberty, or, comparative freedom, is well adapted to the Lord's object in the present time--namely, the selection of the little flock and the perfecting of them in character and instructing them for the Royal Priesthood of the future--but would be wholly out of line with and insufficient for the work of converting the world, which he is generally supposed to be doing. It is because of this wrong

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doctrine--this supposition that God has commissioned the Church to conquer the world and to subdue all things unto himself during the present age--that so many persons of good judgment have marveled at the simplicity of the organization of the Church by the Lord and the apostles. And seeing how inadequate such an arrangement would be for the conversion of the world , men have undertaken to elaborate the organization, as seen in the various ecclesiastical institutions of Christendom. Of these is the Papacy, one of the most subtle and powerful organizations imaginable. The Methodist Episcopal system is also masterful, but on a higher plane; it controls a different class. It is the thorough organization of these two great systems that has given them their success and their power in "the Christian world." We shall see as we proceed that these and all human "churches" are in their organization quite different from the Church which the Lord instituted--that their ways are not his ways, even as their plans are not his plans; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord's ways and plans higher than those of man. Isa 55:8-9 ) Ere long the true-hearted will see that they greatly erred in leaving the simplicity of Christ and attempting to be wiser than God in the conduct of his work. Results will show his wisdom and man's folly.

The Nominal vs. the Real New Creation

As with the typical people all were Israelites in a nominal sense, but comparatively few "Israelites indeed," so in the antitype we are not to be surprised that we find a nominal Church, as well as a real Church, a nominal New Creation as well as a real New Creation. Ever since Christianity became to some extent popular, "tares," "imitation wheat," have infested the wheat-field, affecting to be genuine wheat. However difficult it may be for man, who cannot read the heart, to determine the true from the false, the wheat from the tares the Lord assures us that he knoweth the heart, that--"The Lord knoweth them that are his." He does indeed expect us to discriminate between the true

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sheep and wolves in sheep's clothing, and between the true grapevine bearing the true fruits and the thorns and thistles which might seek to pass themselves off for members of the true Vine, and tells us so to do. But beyond this general judgment--a liberal examination of the general outward character, the Lord does not permit his people to go-- saying, "Judge nothing before the time." Amongst those whom you recognize as legitimate branches in the Vine, do not attempt to decide how long a time should be granted them to bring forth the ripe fruits. We must leave that to the Father, the Husbandman, who prunes every branch, and who will ultimately take away every branch or member that "beareth not fruit." We, therefore, leave to the Husbandman the pruning of the "Vine"--the correction of every truly consecrated member of the Church of Christ-- letting him do the excommunicating, recognizing that he did the planting and the watering also, and brought forward the sprouting of every branch in the true Vine. The spirit of the Vine is to be recognized to some extent in each branch or member, and each is to be encouraged and assisted in its growth. Love is to be the law amongst all these branches; and only as the divine Word is heard--not a whit beyond its authorization--has any branch the right to criticize, rebuke or otherwise prune, or do aught against another branch. The spirit of love is, on the contrary, to prompt to mercy, kindness, long-suffering and patience up to the very limits allowed by the great Husbandman; which, as we have already suggested, are broad and liberal and designed to develop character in every branch.

All this is different in human organizations in proportion as they have ignored or abandoned the simplicity of the divine arrangement. They have made arbitrary rules respecting who may be acknowledged as members or branches of the Vine, and who may not be admitted to the full fellowship; they have made financial exactions and various rules and regulations which the Scriptures have not made, and laid down numerous creeds and confessions which the Scriptures have not laid down, and have prescribed penalties

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for violations of these which the Scriptures have not imposed, and have made regulations for disfellowshipping, excommunicating, etc., contrary to any authorization given to the True Church, the Body of Christ, the True Vine, the New Creation.

We have already called attention to the fact that the Church of Christ is called in the Scriptures the "Mystery of God,"* because, contrary to expectation, the Church was to be the Messianic Body which, under its Anointed Head, Jesus, shall rule and bless the world. This mystery, or secret, now revealed to the saints, was kept hidden from past ages and dispensations Eph 3:3-6 ), and is the mystery of God which shall be finished now shortly, in the consummation of the New Creation, in the close of this Gospel age. We have also drawn attention to the fact that the Scriptures refer to Babylon as a counterfeit system (mother and daughters --some more and some less corrupt, some better and some poorer counterfeits), and there designated the "Mystery of Iniquity." We are not to be understood as meaning that the founders of these counterfeit systems purposely and intentionally organized them for the purpose of misleading the people of God. Rather we are to remember that it is Satan who in the Scriptures is credited with having "deceived the whole world" on this subject; putting evil for good and good for evil; light for darkness and darkness for light. Satan "now worketh in the children of disobedience" Isa 5:20 ; Eph 2:2 ), even as he proffered his cooperation to our Lord Jesus. He delights to cooperate with all of Christ's followers whom he can seduce from walking in the footsteps of the Master. As he tried to persuade our Lord that there were better ways--ways that involved less personal sacrifice and self-denial than the Father's ways--by which he might bless all the families of the earth, so he, during this Gospel age, has been intent upon persuading the Lord's truly consecrated brethren to adopt his plans--not to give careful heed to the Father's plans and rules. He would have them

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*Vol. I, Chap. v.

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overwise--to feel that they can serve the Lord better by other methods than those the Scriptures point out. He would puff them up with feelings of zeal for and pride in their human systems, the work they are doing, and the organizations which they have effected. With the Master the Adversary had no success, his answer being invariably, "It is written." But not so with his followers. Many, many neglect what is written; neglect the Master's example and words; neglect the words and example of the apostles, and are intent upon carrying out for God a plan which they hope and believe he approves and which they trust will redound to his praise.

How wonderfully mistaken such will find themselves when, by and by, they shall see the Kingdom as God originally planned it and has since worked the matter out along his own lines! They will then discover how much better it is to be careful to be taught of the Lord, than to attempt to teach the Lord--to do his work in his way, rather than work for him in a way which he will not acknowledge. The success of these human plans--as in Papacy, Methodism, and, proportionately, in other denominations--helps to make these systems "strong delusions."

The Lord has not interfered with, or hindered, the growth of the "tares" in the wheat-field during this Gospel Age. On the contrary, he instructed his people to expect that both would grow together until the "harvest" time, when he himself would be present, superintending the separation, gathering the wheat into his barn (the glorified condition), and seeing to the bundling of the tares for the great time of trouble with which the age shall end, and which shall destroy them as "tares" or imitation New Creatures without destroying them as human beings. Indeed, many of the "tares" are respectable, moral, and, as the world uses the term, "good people." So amongst all the heathen religions there are elements of goodness, too, though far less than amongst the "tares," who have been greatly blessed and advantaged every way by reason of their close contact with

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the true "wheat," and their partial discernment of the spirit of the Lord in the latter.

This Mystery of Iniquity ("Babylon," Confusion, Christendom) the Apostle Paul declares was already beginning to work amongst the Lord's people in his day; but the working was evidently but slight until after the death of Paul and the other apostles. While the apostles remained with the Church they were able to point out some of the false teachers through whom the Adversary was seeking privily, privately, secretly, to bring in damnable heresies to undermine the faith and to turn the faithful aside from the hopes and promises and simplicities of the Gospel. 2Pe 2:1 ) The Apostle Paul speaks also of some of these in general terms, as beginning the workings of iniquity; but he names some of them personally, Hymenaeus and Philetus, et al., "who concerning the truth have erred," etc.--"overthrowing the faith of some." 2Ti 2:17 ) Respecting these false teachers and their errors, he again warned the Church through the elders at Ephesus, especially pointing out that these would flourish after his death--grievous wolves, they would not spare the flock. Act 20:29 ) This last is remarkably in accord with our Lord's prediction in the parable. Mat 13:25 , Mat 13:39 ) Our Lord clearly shows that these false teachers and their false doctrines were the agencies of the Adversary who sowed the tares amongst the wheat that he and the apostles had planted. He says, "While men [the special servants, the apostles] slept , an enemy came and sowed tares."

It was not long after the apostles fell asleep, we may be sure, until the spirit of rivalry under the guidance of the Adversary led step by step to the ultimate organization of the great Antichrist system--Papacy. Its organization, as we have already seen,* was not effected instantly, but gradually --beginning to assume its power about the fourth century. The great Antichrist flourished so successfully for a

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*Vol. II, Chap. ix.

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time that all the histories written from that period onward to the "Reformation" practically ignored the right of every person and class to the name Christian or to be considered orthodox and faithful who did not belong to or in some manner support this Antichrist system. Others were not permitted to exist except privately and under ban, and if there were histories of them, apparently they were destroyed; but, possibly, like those walking in the light of present truth today, the faithful of that time were so insignificant in proportion of numbers and influence that none would have thought them worthy of mention in comparison with the great and successful system which they essayed to oppose, and which so rapidly climbed to the influential place of power in both temporal and spiritual matters.

Since the "Reformation" the Adversary has again showed his cunning in organizing every new departure (every fresh effort to reach the truth) into another Antichrist; so that today we have not only the original "mother of harlots" but her many "daughters."* In view of these facts we will not seek for histories of the True Church except such as we find in the New Testament, which evidently have been preserved to us with great sacredness and purity, notwithstanding an occasional interpolation, illustrated in Joh 21:25 and 1Jo 5:7 .

We will, however, briefly call attention to certain facts, which not only prove to us that the Scriptures have been preserved in comparative purity, but which attest also at the same time that the many systems claiming to have been organized by the Lord and the apostles are wholly different from the one which they did organize, the account of which is given us in the New Testament.

(1) If the primitive Church had been organized after the manner of Papacy or other denominations of today, the records would have been quite different from what they are. We would have had some reference to our Lord's installation of the apostleship with great ceremony, himself

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*See Vol. III, pp. 42,154,155.

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sitting somewhere in state as a Pope, receiving the apostles in scarlet robes as cardinals, etc., etc.; we would have had strict laws and regulations respecting Friday, abstaining from meat, etc.--something respecting "holy water" sprinkled upon the apostles or upon the multitude, and something about making the sign of the cross. Mary, our Lord's mother, would not have been forgotten. An account would have been given of her claimed miraculous conception and she would have been announced as "the mother of God," and Jesus himself would have been represented as doing her some special homage, and as instructing the apostles to approach him through her. Some injunction would have been given respecting "holy candles," when and how and where they should be used; some instruction respecting the invocation of saints; some instruction about the "mass," and how Peter, meeting with the other disciples, was recognized as the Pope; how they prostrated themselves before him, and how he performed mass for them all, declaring that he had power to re-create Christ in the bread and to sacrifice him afresh for personal transgressions. We would have some account of Stephen's burial; how Peter or the others "consecrated" a grave for him, so that he might lie in "consecrated ground," and that they put in his hand a "holy candle" while they said certain prayers over him. We would have had rules and regulations respecting various orders of clergy, and how the laity are not at all "brethren" with them, but subservient to them. We would in turn have orders amongst the clergy, higher and lower, Reverend, Right Reverend, Most Reverend; Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals and Popes; and particular directions how each and all were to attain their positions, seeking honor one from another, and who should be greatest.

The fact that these matters are in no sense of the word even hinted at by the apostles is prima facie evidence that the systems which claim either in whole or in part such divisions of the Church, such authorities, such offices, etc., were not organized by the apostles or under their guidance, nor

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by the Lord who appointed them and recognized their work. Joh 15:16 ; Act 1:2 ; Rev 21:14

(2) It proves, additionally, that the Bible was not concocted by these wise organizers; for had they forged it we may be sure they would have supplied it abundantly with references such as we have suggested.

(3) Having this authority and evidence that the "mother" and numerous "daughter" systems of the present day were not instituted by the Lord and the apostles, but resulted from corruptions of their simple teachings, and are, hence, mere human institutions--attempts to be wiser than God in the doing of the divine work--let us have the greater confidence in the Word of God, and let us give the more earnest heed even to the smallest particulars it sets before us, upon this and all subjects.

During the six thousand years of the world's history up to the present time, God has permitted mankind in general to do their best in solving the problems of life. The natural man was created with qualities of mind which inclined him to honor and worship his Creator; and these qualities of mind have not been totally obliterated by the fall--"total depravity" is certainly not true of the race in general. As God has allowed men to exercise the other qualities of their minds as they chose, so he has permitted them to exercise their moral and religious traits according to their inclinations. We may see that aside from natural Israel and spiritual Israel, and the influences which have gone out from these to the world, God has let the world alone--let it do the best it could do in the way of self-development, etc. Man in his ignorance and blindness has largely fallen a prey to the devices of Satan and the fallen angels, who, through various forms of superstition, false religions, magic, etc., have turned the masses far from the truth. The Apostle explains the situation, saying that this is so because when men knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened, and God gave them over-- allowed them to take the way they preferred, to learn certain

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lessons in connection with their own depravity, and to manifest by the degradation into which they would fall the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the unwisdom of listening to any counsel except that of their Creator.

As we have already seen, the Lord does not purpose to leave mankind in this weak and fallen condition; but through the New Creation, in his own due time, the knowledge of the Lord will reach every member of the human family, with full opportunity to come to a knowledge of the truth, and to all the blessings secured through the redemption. But the point which we wish specially to enunciate here is that, as God has thus left the heathen nations to themselves, so also he is leaving so-called "Christendom" to itself. He is permitting men who have received some of the light of divine revelation to use it as they please--to try their hand at improvements upon the divine plan, to organize human systems, etc. All this does not mean that he has not the power to interfere, nor that he approves of these various conflicting and, more or less, injurious devices and institutions of humanity and Churchianity. These experiences will constitute another lesson, which by and by will reprove many, when they shall recognize the grand outcome of the divine plan and see how God kept steadily on, working out the accomplishment of his original purposes, practically ignoring the schemes and devices of man, and accomplishing his results sometimes partly through them and sometimes in absolute opposition to them. Just so he did in the end of the Jewish age, when he permitted some of that nation to accomplish his plan in persecuting and crucifying the Lord and his apostles. And as some of them were "Israelites indeed," afterward blessed and uplifted and made partakers of the sufferings of Christ that by and by they might also be partakers of his glories, so now there are probably spiritual "Israelites indeed" who, Paul-like, will be recovered from the snares of the Adversary.

Another point is worthy of notice: the Lord has a special time for the beginning of his Kingdom, a special time, therefore, in which his elect New Creation shall be developed

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and prepared for his service; and apparently it was a part of his plan that special light should shine upon the beginning and upon the close of this period. The Apostle intimates this when he refers to us "upon whom the ends of the ages have come." 1Co 10:11 ) It was in the lapping of the Jewish and Gospel ages that the Way, the Truth and the Life first were manifested; "Dark Ages" intervened, and now in the lapping time of the Gospel and Millennial ages the light shines as never before--on "things new and old." While we are to suppose that those in accord with the Lord in the beginning of the age were given special light, and that such now, in the close of the age, will be favored with the light of Present Truth that they may thereby be sanctified, we are not to think that the same measure of light was necessary to sanctification during centuries intervening, some of which are known as the "Dark Ages." We are not to suppose that the Lord ever left himself without witnesses, however they may have been ignored on the pages of history; but are to regard this ignoring as due to their comparative obscurity and to their being out of touch and out of sympathy with the great anti-Christian systems--even though some of them may have been in those systems. So the Lord's call, applicable now, clearly indicates that we should expect to find many of the Lord's people in , and confused and bewildered by, sectarianism, in Babylon: "Babylon the great is fallen." "Come out of her , my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev 18:2 , Rev_18:4

Having thus taken a cursory view of the Church and her limited history, let us come more particularly to an examination of the Church as it was originally instituted by our Lord. As there is but one Spirit of the Lord, which all who are his must possess, so there is but one Head and center of the Church, our Lord Jesus. We are to remember, however, that in all of his work the Father was freely acknowledged, and that according to his own account his work was done in the Father's name, by the Father's authority--"Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be

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rooted up." Mat 15:13 ) The true Church, the New Creation, is of the Father's planting. Our Lord says, I am the true Vine, ye are the branches and my Father is the Husbandman. Later on he points out that there is a "Vine of the Earth," a nominal church, a false church, that was not of the Father's planting, and which shall be rooted up. The fruitage of the True Vine is Love, and is precious to the Father; but the fruitage of the Vine of the Earth is selfishness in various forms, and will be ultimately gathered into the great winepress of the wrath of God in the great time of trouble with which this age will close. Joh 15:1-6 ; Rev 14:19

Every Bible student has surely observed that our Lord and the apostles recognized no division in the Church and ignored everything like schism, both in fact and in name. With them the Church was one and indivisible, like its one faith, one Lord and one baptism. It was spoken of from this standpoint as the Church, the Church of God, the Church of the Living God, the Church of Christ, the Church of Firstborns; and the individuals of it were called "Brethren," "Disciples," "Christians." All these names are used indiscriminately of the whole Church and of the smallest gatherings--even the twos and threes--and of the individuals, at Jerusalem or Antioch or elsewhere. The variety of these names and their general use clearly implies that none of them were intended to be proper names. All were merely illustrative of the great fact which our Lord and his apostles continually set forth, viz., that the Church ( Ecclesia , body, company) of the Lord's followers are his "elect"--to share his cross and learn needed lessons now, and by and by to be associated with him in his glory.

This custom should have continued, but was changed during the Dark Ages. When error had developed, the sectarian spirit came with it and peculiar designations followed --Church of Rome, Baptist Church, Lutheran Church, Church of England, Holy Catholic Church, Wesleyan Church, Christian Church, Presbyterian Church, etc. These are marks of carnality , as the Apostle points out 1Co 3:3-4 );

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and as the New Creation emerges out of the gross darkness which has so long covered the world it becomes enlightened upon this point also; and observing the error and appearance of evil, not only comes out of sectarianism, but refuses to be known by these unscriptural names--though willingly answering to any or all that are Biblical.

Let us now examine the foundations of the one Church which the Lord established:

The Twelve Apostles of the Lamb

The Apostle declares that other foundation can no man lay than that is laid--Jesus Christ. 1Co 3:11 ) Upon this foundation our Lord, as the Father's representative, began to rear his Church, and in so doing he called twelve apostles--not by accident, but by design, just as the twelve tribes of Israel were not twelve by accident, but in conformity to the divine plan. Not only did the Lord not choose more than those twelve apostles for that position, but he has never given authority since for any more--barring the fact that Judas, having proved himself unworthy of a position amongst the twelve, fell from his place and was succeeded by the Apostle Paul.

We notice with what care the Lord watched over the apostles--his carefulness for Peter, his praying for him in the hour of his trial, and his special appeals to him afterward to feed his sheep and his lambs. We note also his care for doubting Thomas and his willingness to demonstrate to him thoroughly the fact of his resurrection. Of the twelve, he lost none save the son of perdition--and his deflection was already foreknown to the Lord and foretold in the Scriptures. We cannot recognize the choice of Matthias recorded in Acts as in any sense of the word the Lord's selection. He was, doubtless, a good man, but was chosen by the eleven without authority. They had been instructed to tarry at Jerusalem and wait for endowment from on high by the holy Spirit at Pentecost, and it was during this waiting period, and before they were endued with power, that

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they mistakenly cast lots and chose Matthias to take the place of Judas. The Lord did not reprove them for this undesigned meddling with his arrangement, but simply ignored their choice, and in his own time brought forward the Apostle Paul, declaring, "He is a chosen vessel unto me"; and, again, we have the Apostle's statement that he was chosen from his mother's womb to be a special servant; and, further, that he was not a whit behind the chiefest of the apostles. Gal 1:15 ; 2Co 11:5

From this it will be seen that we are entirely out of accord with the views of Papacy and of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and of the Catholic-Apostolic Church, and of the Mormons, all of whom claim that the number of the apostles was not limited to twelve, and that there have been successors since their day who spoke and wrote with equal authority with the original twelve. We deny this, and in evidence note how the Lord particularly chose those twelve, calling to mind the prominence of the number twelve in sacred things pertaining to this election; and we cap the climax by pointing to the symbolical picture of the glorified Church furnished in Revelation 21. There the New Jerusalem --the symbol of the new Millennial government, the Church, the Bride united to her Lord--is very clearly delineated; and in the picture the statement is most distinctly made that the twelve foundations of the City are precious, and that in the twelve foundations were the names written of the " twelve apostles of the Lamb"--no more, no less. What better proof could we have that there were never more than twelve of these apostles of the Lamb, and that any others were, as the Apostle Paul suggests, "false apostles." 2Co 11:13

Nor can we imagine any need of more apostles; for we still have those twelve with us--their testimony and the fruit of their labors--in a much more convenient form than had those who were personally with them during their ministry. The records of their ministries are with us; their records of the Lord's words, miracles, etc. Their discourses on the various topics of Christian doctrine in their epistles are in our

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hands today in a most satisfactory manner. These things are " sufficient ," as the Apostle explains "that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished." Explaining the matter further the Apostle declared, "I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God." What more is necessary? 2Ti 3:17 ; Act 20:27

Immediately succeeding his forty days of meditation and testing by the Adversary in the wilderness, and having determined upon the proper course, our Lord began to preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom and to invite followers, who were called disciples. It was from amongst these disciples that he eventually chose the twelve. Luk 6:13-16 ) They were all from what might be termed the humbler walks of life, several of them fishermen, and of them it is declared without disapproval that the rulers "perceived that they were unlearned men." Act 4:13 ) Apparently the twelve were called from amongst the "disciples" or general followers who espoused the Lord's cause and confessed him without leaving their daily avocations. The twelve were invited to become associates in the ministry of the Gospel and the record is that they forsook all to follow him. Mat 4:17-22 ; Mar 1:16-20 ; Mar 3:13-19 ; Luk 5:9-11 ) The "seventy" commissioned later on never were recognized as apostles. Luke gives us a particular account of the selection of the twelve, informing us that just prior to this event our Lord withdrew to a mountain for prayer--evidently to take counsel with the Father in respect to his work and his colaborers in it. He continued all night in prayer--and when it was day he called unto him his disciples (Greek, mathetes -- learners or pupils); and of them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles (Greek, apostolos --sent forth ones). Thus the twelve were marked as separate and distinct amongst the disciples. Luk 6:12-13 , Luk 6:17

The other disciples not thus chosen to apostleship were also beloved of the Lord, and no doubt they were in full sympathy with his appointment of the twelve, recognizing it as in the interest of the work in general. Upon what bases

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the Lord made his choice is not stated; but we have the record of his own prayer to the effect that, "Thine they were and thou gavest them me"; and again, "Of those whom thou hast given me, I have lost none save the son of perdition" --Judas. In what sense or to what degree the Father made choice of the twelve matters nothing to us. No doubt one qualification which they possessed was humility; and, undoubtedly, their lowly vocations and previous experiences in life had been such as tended to make them not only humble men, but to lead additionally to strength of character, determination, perseverance, etc., to a degree which other pursuits might not have done to the same extent. We are informed that the selection of the twelve at the time it took place, instead of waiting until Pentecost (the date of the begetting of the Church), was, in large measure, for the purpose of permitting these twelve to be specially with the Lord, to behold his works, to hear his message, that thus they might in due time be witnesses to declare to us and to all of God's people at first hand the wonderful works of God, and the wonderful words of life manifested through Jesus. Luk 24:44-48 ; Act 10:39-42

The Apostolic Commission

There is not the slightest suggestion anywhere, to the apostles or concerning them, that they were to be lords over God's heritage; that they were to consider themselves as different from other believers, exempt from the operations of divine law, or specially favored or secure as respects their everlasting inheritance. They were continually to remember that "all ye are brethren," and that "one is your Master, even Christ." They were always to remember that it was necessary for them to make their calling and election sure ; and that unless they obeyed the Law of Love and were humble, as little children, they should in no wise "enter into the Kingdom." They were given no official titles nor any instruction respecting special garb or peculiar demeanor, but merely that they should in all these things be ensamples

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to the flock; that others seeing their good works should glorify the Father; that others walking in their footsteps should thus be following in the footsteps of the leader also, and ultimately attain to the same glory, honor, immortality--partakers of the same divine nature, members of the same New Creation.

Their commission was one of service --they were to serve one another, to serve the Lord and to lay down their lives for the brethren. These services were to be rendered specially in connection with the promulgation of the Gospel. They were partakers of the pre-anointing that had already come upon their Master--the same anointing which pertains to all of the New Creation, all of the Royal Priesthood, and is described by the prophet, saying: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek,...to bind up the broken-hearted," etc. Isa 61:1-2 ; Luk 4:17-21 ; Mat 10:5-8 ; Mar 3:14-15 ; Luk 10:1-17

Although this anointing did not come directly upon them until Pentecost, they had previously had a foretaste of it in that the Lord conferred upon them a share of his holy Spirit power, etc., when he sent them out to preach. But even in this, special opportunity for pride was taken away when later on our Lord sent seventy others forth to do a similar work, and similarly empowered them to perform miracles in his name. The real work of the apostles did not, therefore, begin in the proper sense of the word until they had received the holy Spirit at Pentecost. There, a special manifestation of divine power was conferred upon them-- not only the holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit, but also, and specially, power to bestow these gifts upon others. Thenceforth they were by this last-mentioned power distinguished from all others of the Church. Other believers were counted in as members of the anointed body of Christ, made partakers of his Spirit and begotten of that Spirit to newness of life, etc.; but none could have a gift, or special manifestation except as conferred through these apostles. These gifts

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of miracles, tongues, interpretations of tongues, etc., we are, however, to bear in mind, in no sense hindered or took the place of the fruits of the holy Spirit, which were to be grown or developed by each of the faithful through obedience to the divine instructions--as each grew in grace, knowledge and love. The conferring of these gifts, which a man might receive and yet be sounding brass, a tinkling cymbal, marked the apostles, nevertheless, as the special servants or representatives of the Lord in the work of founding the Church. 1Co 12:7-10 ; 1Co 13:1-3

Our Lord in selecting these apostles, and in instructing them, had in view the blessing and instruction of all of his followers to the end of the age. This is evident from his prayer at the close of his ministry, in which, referring to the disciples, he said, "I have manifested thy name unto the men [apostles] which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy Word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words [doctrines] which thou gavest me and they have received them,...I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. ...Neither pray I for these [apostles] alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word [the entire Gospel Church]: that they all may be one [in purpose, in love], as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; [then showing the ultimate purpose of this election, both of the apostles and of the entire New Creation, he added]--that the world [loved of God while sinners and redeemed by the precious blood] may believe that thou hast sent me"--to redeem and restore them. Joh 17:6-9 , Joh 17:20-21

The apostles, although unlearned men, were evidently strong characters, and under the Lord's teaching their lack of worldly wisdom and education was more than compensated for in "the spirit of a sound mind." It is not strange, therefore, that these men were uniformly recognized

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by the early Church as guides in the way of the Lord--specially appointed instructors--"pillars in the Church," next in authority to the Lord himself. In various ways the Lord prepared them for this position:

They were with him continually and could, therefore, be witnesses respecting all the affairs of his ministry, his teachings, his miracles, his prayers, his sympathy, his holiness, his self-sacrifice even unto death, and, finally, witnesses of his resurrection. Not only did the early Church need all these testimonies, but all who have since been called of the Lord and have accepted his call to the New Creation--all who have fled for refuge and are trusting in the glorious hopes centered in his character, in his sacrificial death, in his high exaltation and in the plan of God he is to fulfil--needed just such personal testimony in respect to all these matters, to the intent that they might have strong faith, strong consolation.

Seventy other disciples were sent forth later, by the Lord, to proclaim his presence and the harvest of the Jewish age, but their work was different in many respects from that of the twelve. Indeed in every manner the Lord seemed so specially to set the apostles apart, that we, with the entire Church, may have fullest confidence in them. These alone were participants with him in the last Passover and in the institution of the new memorial of his own death; these alone were with him in Gethsemane; it was also to these that he manifested himself specially after his resurrection; and it was these only who were specially used as mouthpieces of the holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The eleven were "men of Galilee"; as some who heard them remarked, "Are not all these Galileans?" Act 2:7 ; Luk 24:48-51 ; Mat 28:16-19

Although--as the record shows--our Lord revealed himself after his resurrection to about five hundred brethren, nevertheless the apostles were specially dealt with and were intended to be the specific "witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up on the

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third day... And he commanded us to preach unto the people," etc. Act 10:39-45 ; Act 13:31 ; 1Co 15:3-8

The Apostle Paul, although not directly a witness to the same extent as the eleven, was, nevertheless, made a witness of our Lord's resurrection in that he was given a subsequent glimpse of his glorious presence, as he himself states the matter--"Last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time [before the time]." 1Co 15:8-9 ) The Apostle Paul was not really entitled to see the Lord in glory before the remainder of the Church at his Second Advent, when all of his faithful shall be changed and be made like him and see him as is; but in order that the Apostle might be a witness he was granted this glimpse and was additionally granted visions and revelations more than they all. He was thus, perhaps, well compensated for his previous lack of personal contact with the Master. Nor were his special experiences merely for his own advantage; but chiefly, we may presume, for the advantage of the entire Church. Certain it is that the peculiar experiences, visions, revelations, etc., granted to the Apostle who took the place of Judas, have been more helpful than those of any other of the apostles.

His experiences permitted him to know and appreciate not only "the deep things of God"--even some things not lawful to be uttered 2Co 12:4 ), but the illumination which they gave to the Apostle's mind has through his writings been reflected upon the Church from his day to the present time.

It was because the Apostle Paul had those visions and revelations that he was enabled to grasp the situation and to appreciate the new dispensation and recognize the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the divine character and plan so clearly, and it was because he appreciated these things clearly himself that he was qualified to state them in his teachings and epistles in such a manner as to confer blessings upon the household of faith all down throughout the age. Indeed, even today, the Church could better afford to lose the testimonies of any or all of the other

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apostles than to lose the testimony of this one. Nevertheless, we are glad to have the full testimony--glad to appreciate it all, as well as the noble characters of the entire twelve. Mark the testimony which indicates his apostleship: first of all, the Lord's words, "He is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel." Act 9:15 ) The Apostle's own declaration is, "I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not of man; for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" Gal 1:11-12 ); and again he declares, "He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision [the Jews], the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles." Gal 2:8 ) Not only did his zeal for the Lord and the brethren, and his willingness in laying down his life for the brethren --in spending time and energy for their blessing--testify to his worthiness to rank as an equal of any apostle, but when his apostolic relationship to the Church was called in question by some, he frankly pointed to this, and to the Lord's blessing in connection with his revelations and ministries, etc., as proving that he was "not a whit behind" the others. 1Co 9:1 ; 2Co 11:5 , 2Co 11:23 ; 2Co 12:1-7 , 2Co 12:12 ; Gal 2:8 ; Gal 3:5

It was not the Lord's intention that the apostles should do a work merely amongst the Jews--quite to the contrary is the record. He instructed the eleven that his work and their message was for all the people, ultimately; though they were to tarry at Jerusalem until endued with power, and were there to begin their testimony. Our Lord's words were, "Ye shall receive power after that the holy Spirit is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Act 1:8 ) This witnessing continued not only during the lifetime of the apostles, but still continues. They are still preaching to us, still instructing the faithful, still encouraging, still admonishing, still reproving. Their death did not stop their ministry. They still speak, still witness, are still mouthpieces of the Lord to his faithful.

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The Inspiration of the Apostles

It is well that we have confidence in the apostles as faithful witnesses, or historians, and that we notice that their testimonies bear the stamp of honesty, in that they sought not wealth nor glory amongst men, but sacrificed all earthly interests in their zeal for the risen and glorified Master. Their testimony would be invaluable if it had no further weight than this; but we find the Scriptures teaching that they were used of the Lord as his inspired agents, and that they were specially guided of him in respect to the testimony, doctrines, customs, etc., which they would establish in the Church. They bore witness not only to the things they heard and saw, but, additionally, to the instruction which they received through the holy Spirit; thus they were faithful stewards. "Let a man so account of us as...stewards of the mysteries of God," said Paul 1Co 4:1 ). The same thought was expressed by our Lord when he said respecting the twelve, "I will make you fishers of men," and again, "Feed my sheep," "Feed my lambs." The Apostle also says--The mystery [the deep truths of the Gospel concerning the high calling of the New Creation--the Christ] hidden in other ages, is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. The object of this revelation is explained to be: "To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery [upon what terms participation in this New Creation may be obtained] which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God." Eph 3:3-11 ) Again in describing how the Church is to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, the Apostle declares "For this cause [for the building up of the Church, the temple of God], I, Paul [am] the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles." Eph 2:20 , Eph 2:22 ; Eph 3:1

The Comforter was promised to "teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you"; "and he shall show you things to come." Joh 14:26 ; Joh 16:13 ) To a certain extent, undoubtedly, this is applicable to the entire Church, but it was specially

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applicable to the apostles; and, indeed, it still operates toward the remainder of the Church through the apostles--their words still being the channels through which the holy Spirit teaches us things both new and old. In harmony with this promise we may understand the apostolic inspiration to have been of a threefold character. (1) Refreshment of memory enabling them to recall and reproduce the Lord's personal teachings. (2) Guidance into an appreciation of the truth pertaining to the divine plan of the ages. (3) Special revelations of things to come--the things of which our Lord declared, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." Joh 16:12

We are not to suppose that the refreshment of the memory of the apostles implied a dictation of the exact phraseology or of the exact order of our Lord's words. Nor do the apostolic writings give evidence of such a dictation. The Lord's promise, however, is itself a guarantee of the correctness of their statements. In each of the four Gospels we have a history of the Lord's early life and ministry; yet in each the individuality of the writer is manifested. Each in his own style records those items which seem to him most important; and under the Lord's supervision these various accounts furnish altogether as complete a history as is necessary for the establishment of the faith of the Church, of the identity of Jesus as the Messiah of the prophets, of the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning him, of the facts of his life and of his teachings. Had the inspiration been verbal (a word-for-word dictation), it would not have been necessary for several men to rephrase the narrative; but it is noteworthy that while each writer exercised his individual freedom of expression and made his own choice of the events most important and worthy of record, the Lord by his holy Spirit so supervised the matter that nothing of importance was omitted--all that is needed is faithfully recorded--"that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished." It is interesting to note that the Apostle John's record supplements the other three--Matthew,

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Mark and Luke--and that he chiefly discourses of circumstances and incidents of importance omitted by the others.

The Lord's proposition that he would through the holy Spirit guide the apostles, and through them the New Creation, "into all truth," implies that the guidance would be a general one rather than a personal and individual guidance into all truth--the fulfilment after this manner is evidenced by the records. Although the apostles, with the exception of Paul, were plain and unlearned men, nevertheless their scriptural expositions are very remarkable. They were able to "confound the wisdom of the wise" theologists of their day--and ever since. However eloquent the error, it cannot stand before the logic of their deductions from the Law and the Prophets and the teachings of the Lord. The Jewish Doctors of the Law remarked this, and, as we read, "took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus"--that they had learned his doctrine and copied his spirit. Act 4:5-6 , Act_4:13

The apostolic epistles consist of such logical arguments based upon the inspired writings of the Old Testament and upon the words of the Lord; and all who, throughout this Gospel age, have partaken of the same spirit by following the lines of argument which the Lord through his mouthpieces has set before us, are guided to the same truthful conclusions; so that our faith does not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1Co 2:4-5 ) Nevertheless, in these teachings, as well as in their historical presentations, we have no evidence of a word-for-word dictation-- no evidence that they were merely amanuenses of the Lord, speaking and writing in a mechanical manner as did the prophets of olden times. 2Pe 1:21 ) Rather, the apostles' clear-sighted view was an illumination of the mind which enabled them to see and appreciate the divine purposes and thus to state them clearly; just as all of the Lord's people since, following their leading, have been enabled to grow in grace and in knowledge and in love, and so have been enabled to "comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,

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and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth [all human] knowledge." Eph 3:18-19

Nevertheless, we are fully justified in the belief that their other teachings, as well as their historical accounts, were so supervised by the Lord that improper words were avoided, and that the truth was set forth in such a form as to constitute "meat in due season" for the household of faith from their day to the present. This divine supervision of the apostles was indicated in advance by our Lord's words, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Mat 18:18 ) We would understand this to signify, not that the Lord would yield his prerogative and become obedient to the dictates of the apostles, but that they should be so kept, so guided by the holy Spirit, that their decisions in the Church, respecting what things should be considered obligatory and what things should be considered optional, would be proper decisions; and that the Church in general, therefore, might know that the matters were fixed, settled--the conclusions arrived at being the Lord's decision as well as that of the apostles.

Upon This Rock Will I Build My Church

It was in full accord with this that, after the Apostle Peter had borne witness that our Lord was the Messiah, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [ petros --a stone, a rock], and upon this rock [ petra --a mass of rock--the great fundamental rock of truth, which you have just expressed] I will build my Church." The Lord himself is the builder, as he himself also is declared to be the foundation, "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid--Jesus Christ." 1Co 3:11 ) He is the great Rock, and Peter's confession of him as such was, therefore, a rock testimonial--a declaration of the foundation principles underlying the divine plan. The

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Apostle Peter so understood this matter and so expressed his understanding. 1Pe 2:5-6 ) He declared all truly consecrated believers to be "living stones " who come to the great Rock of the divine plan, Christ Jesus--to be built up as a holy temple of God through union with him--the foundation. Peter, therefore, disowned any pretension to being the foundation-stone himself and properly classed himself in with all the other "living stones" (Gr. lithos ) of the Church-- though petros , rock, signifies a larger stone than lithos , and all the apostles as "foundation" stones would in the divine plan and order have a larger importance than their brethren. Rev 21:14

Keys of Authority

In the same connection the Lord said to Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven," etc. Thus the same authority given to the apostles as a whole was specifically expressed to Peter, with the additional privilege or honor of the keys--the opening power or authority. We remember how the Apostle Peter used the keys of the Kingdom and did the opening work of the new dispensation, first, to the Jews at Pentecost, and, later, to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius. On the Day of Pentecost, when the holy Spirit was poured out, we read that "Peter stood up with the eleven"--he took the initiative; he opened , the others followed, and the gospel invitation was thus thrown open to the Jews. In the case of Cornelius the Lord sent messengers to Peter, and specially directed him by a vision to follow their invitation, and thus particularly used him in opening the door of mercy, liberty and privilege to the Gentiles--that they also might come into and share the privilege of the high calling of the New Creation. These matters are in full accord with what we have seen respecting the Lord's purposes in connection with the choice of the twelve apostles. And the more clearly the Lord's people discern the fact that these twelve men were made the peculiar representatives of the new dispensation and their

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words the special channels of truth in respect to the New Creation, the more thoroughly they will be prepared to accept their words, and the more disinclined they will be to indorse the teachings of others in conflict with their testimony. "If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa 8:20

The last proposition of our Lord's promise reads, "He [the Father's holy Spirit] shall show you things to come." This implies a special inspiration of the apostles, and indirectly it implies the blessing and enlightenment of the Lord's people down to the very close of this age, through their teachings. They were thus not only to be holy apostles, but also prophets, or seers making known future events to the Church. It is not necessary to suppose that all of the apostles were used to the same extent in any or all of these ways of service. The fact is that some were honored more not only in privileges of service as apostles, but also more in showing the things to come. The Apostle Paul points out various things to come: the great falling away in the Church; the revealing of the "Man of Sin"; the mystery respecting the second coming of the Lord, and that we shall not all sleep, though we must all be changed; the mystery, hidden from past ages and dispensations, that the Church, including the Gentiles, should be fellow-heirs of the promise made to Abraham--that his seed should bless all the families of the earth, etc., etc. He points out, also, that in the end of the age evil conditions will prevail in the Church; that men will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof; covenant breakers, etc., and that "grievous wolves" (destructive higher critics) would not spare the Lord's flock. Indeed, all of the writings of the Apostle Paul are brilliantly illuminated by the visions and revelations which he enjoyed as a seer of things that in his day were still future and not proper to be fully explained, but which now are manifest to the saints through the types and prophecies of the Old Testament--understandable now in the light of the

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apostles' words because the "due time" has come for them to be understood.

The Apostle Peter, also, as a seer points out the coming of false teachers into the Church who privily, secretively, will bring in damnable heresies, even denying that the Lord bought them. Looking down to our day he prophesies saying, "There shall come in the last days scoffers... saying, Where is the promise of his [Christ's] presence ?" etc. He prophesied also that "The day of the Lord shall so co