PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels — Volume 2
James Hastings · 1,290,716 words · 1269 reading sections
Section 1081
768 TRUTH TEUTH devote himself fully to the work which God has given him. The past is under the blood and the future is secure in the promises of God (Tholuck). And because he sees in Christ the grand purpose of God in the redemption of the world and the security for the hnal accomplishment of that pur- pose, he can…
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Truth, in this specific sense, forms one of the nuclei of the Fourth Gospel. It is equivalent either to the knowledge of God's being and will, or to the Divine being and will itself ; in other words, it rejiresents the higher and heavenly reality of things, transcendent and absolute, and corresponds generally to light …
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This note is struck loudly and clearly at the very outset, in the Prologue : ' And the Logos became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the VOL. II. — 49 Father, full of grace and truth. . . . For of his fulness we have all received, even grace upon grace. For the …
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A further application of this freedom, inherent in the absolute and inward character of the Chris- tian revelation, occurs in the debate (cf. Peyton, Memorabilia of Jesus, p. 446 f.) between Jesus and the Jews in 8^'*- — a passage which rejjroduces the great Pauline ideas of Gal 3^-5^^, although redemp- tion as usual i…
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'The3" who follow the Spirit's guidance will not receive an illumination enabling them to dispense with truth, but the enablement to lay hold of truth. ... On the one hand, the Trutli given in Christ will need from age to age His expounding to unlock its stores ; and, on the other hand, the faith in Him afld His office…
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(2) Figurative or spiritual turning. — In this sense both <TTpi(pw and iiriffTp^<pu3 are employed, but the former only once (Mt 18^). The noun iTTLcrpocp-q, corresponding to i-maTpefjxi} in its spiritual sense, does not occur in the Gospels, and is found only in Ac 15*. Both in the Gospels and elsewhere in the NT the A…
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(2) But we are not confined to the terms for ' turning ' in the NT, in seeking there for the fact of conversion. The reality itself is constantly in evidence. In the ministry of our Lord Himself we have manifest cases of conversion in the sinful woman in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Lk l^''^-), in Zacchseus the pub…
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TUENING TURNING 773 enter into the Kingdom of God. ' Tliis my son ■was dead, and is alive again,' exclaimed the father of the Prodigal, for he recognized a miracle of Divine grace in liis son's return. But that heavenly mys- tery had its human counterpart, that miracle of grace its moral coefficient ; for the Prodig…
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(b) Two other well - known and strongly con- trasted types are those of sudden and gradual or, as it is sometimes called, nurtural conversion. Of the former the NT afibrds numerous examples ; indeed, nearly all the NT conversions are evidently sudden in their mode. It does not follow, however, that we should take this …
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costliest and best he has to give, and so makes a fresh and higher departure in the Christian life, a departure that is deliberate and definite, and thus may properly be described as a turning. In ways like these there may be several conversions or spiritual turning-points in a Christian's history — zigzags, so to spea…
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Illustrations in the Gospels. — The term rendered 'unbelief is the noun awiaTia (occurring 5 times: Mt Vdr-^ 17'-", Mk 6" O-'* 16'*), with a range of mean- ing between distrust and disbelief. There is the use of the verb Tnarfvo) with the objective (ov) or subjective {/j-rj) negative ; occasionally the inten- sitive (o…
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(b) In the Fourth Gospel. — A characteristic feat- ure should be duly noted, the enhanced demand for belief in the Son of God ( ' statt der Sache iiberall nur die Per.son ' is the distinction drawn by Wernle [Quellen des Lebens Jesu, IS]). Passages bearing on the subject will, however, be discussed as they 76 UNBELIE…
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It is difficult, then, to see in Thomas one who will painfully think out truth in order that when once found it may be the more firmly grasjjed. Not, therefore, is he to be classed with those referred to in 4'** (edc firj ffrj/mela Kal Tipara idTjTe, ov fj,ri Trtcrrei^crTjTe). They stand on a far lower level. For with …
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fame of Solomon's wisdom, is taken as evidencing a deeper and unconscious faith in the righteous God who was judging the ini(|uity of the great city, and in the all-wise God whose inspiration was the source of the king's wonderful ability. And this unconscious faith of heathens is deemed worthy to shame and condemn the…
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There are two sections of the NT in which this idea of uncon- scious faith is developed at some length, and given the emphasis which its importance deserves. The more obvious is in the Epistle to the Hebrews, in the great roll-call of those sons of faith in many ages who were ' looking unto the Pioneer and Perfecter of…
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disciples as having recognized on further con- sideration, while Mk. gives ' a stimulating ques- tion whicli leaves the Twelve to think out for themselves ' the comparison of leaven witli teach- ing (Swete, in loc). Similarly, Mk 6^^ (RV, 'con- sidered ' AV) of the miracle of the loaves and the walking on the sea ; ' d…
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(b) For wool. On account of the presence of natural oil and many accretions and impurities in the fleece, the cleansing had to be done before the cloth was woven. For this the chief in- gredient was urine collected and kept till it formed ammonium carbonate during putrefaction. Be- cause of the ottensive odours of such…
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When Ave turn to the narrative of Christ's Avords in the Gospels, Ave find that His attitude toAvards God was etliically perfect, as of a Son to a Father, in obedience, symjtatliy, comprehension, honour, love, trust (Mt ll-'"-', Jn 5'»- »» 6^^ lO^" U*\ Lk 23^", and many other passages). This is Avhat Ave are permitted …
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1. In several respects the self-consciousness which the Gospels show to have been resident in Christ was of a unique kind. (1) We look in vain throughout their records for any indication that He recognizes the common call to repentance as applying to Himself. No utterance that is put into His mouth conveys a hint that …
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3. Corresponding to this extraordinary balance of the various traits of ideal character, Christ showed a unique competency as a teacher to bring into a unity the diverse orders and interests of truth. In the standard of life wiiich He set before His disciples He reconciled loftiness with simplicity. The standard is und…
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1. Our Lord's personal teaching on the subject is positive, not negative ; He inculcates unity rather than forbids division. It is to be gathered (1) from His example, (2) from His recorded sayings. (1) The condition of religion in the Jewish commonwealth of His time was profoundly unsatis- factory to Him. It called f…
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2. In this sense the Apostolic tvriters have under- stood Christ. It is noted that the disciples were ' all Avith one accord in one place ' to receive the Spirit (Ac 2') ; that, as the result of Pentecost, they ' were together, and had all things common ' (2^^) ; ' the multitude of them that believed were of one heart …
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3. According to the conception of the Church of the first centuries, unity was locally constituted by association in acts of communion with God (especially in the Eucharistic synaxis), and by recognition of the authority representing the discipline of the Church ; cecumenically, it was constituted by intercom- munion, …
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DNIYERSALISM.— Three different, though con- nected, problems are raised by this word : (1) The universality of Christianity as a gospel for all races (as against the early Ebionism (wh. see) which confined Christianity to the circumcised) ; (2) the universal purpose of Christ's death — for ' all men ' ■84 UNIVERSALIS…
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i. On the other hand, the universalist corollary itself seems strangely absent. For Christ conceives His calling upon earth as confined to Israel (Mt 15-^11). His intercourse with Gentiles (S^"'-), or even with the half-heathen Samaritans (Jn 4^, Lk 9^^ 171^), was but casual. He bids His disciples, at their first going…
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* Universalism (III.), Ritschl dismissed as 'sentimental.' Hia own inclination was towards a doctrine of conditional immor- tality, but he left his eschatologj' somewhat in the dark. VOL. 11.-50 The controversy has gone to sleep. Or judgment in the cause goes by default. Literature. — Besides Ritschl and Hastie, ref…
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Suts even the cruellest of murderers to a painless eath. We, who dare not torture, cannot conceive that God's administration includes endless torment. 4. Passing from simpler moral considerations to a religious speculation, we note that optimism enters into every theistic creed. In some sense — in the deepest sense — …
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(2) The nature of the sin. — In seeking for this, the occasion of the utterance serves as a guide. A study of the context in Mt. and Mk. at once disposes of some of the views that have been enter- tained as to the nature of the sin against the Holy Spirit — all those, e.g., that are associated with the idea that only C…
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(4) The reason for its unpardonahleness. — This does not lie in any limitation of the grace of Christ or of the forgiving mercy of God. It lies in the very nature of the sin as just described. The sin is unpardonable because the sinner has no desire for pardon ; it ' hath never forgiveness ' because it is not repented …
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Literature. — Schaff, Die Siinde wider d. heil Geist ; Miiller, Chr. Doct. of Sin, ii. 418 ; Gloag, Exeget. Stud. i. ; Salmond, ance which he sought was a change of mind on his father's part, not on his own. But Isaac had already bestowed the blessing, and the past could not be undone.. Chr. Doct. of Immort. 379 ; St…
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3. Places at table in the upper room.— There is some probability in the suggestion (Edersheim, LT ii. 494-95) that our Lord occupied the place of the host, that St. John was on His right hand, Judas in the place of honour on His left hand, and St. Peter in the least honom-able place opposite St. John, as shown in tlie …
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Hippolytus of Thebes, Chronicle (usually assigned to 10th cent., but perhaps of 7th cent.) : ' This is John, whom the Lord loved, the virgin and evangelist, who remained at Jerusalem, the mother of the churches, at his own house, to which the Apostles fled in fear of the Jews. There also was prepared the Passover. Ther…
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reluctant and ungracious Deity is to be worked upon by our saying the same thing over and over again (cf. IK 18^®), or by repeating His honours and titles (cf. Ac 19*-'). In the words (b<nrep oi edvcKoi He calls up a picture of those whom His hearers have no desire to resemble (Expositor, 1900 (i. ), 239). 'Pestering t…
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The rending of the veil of the Temple would indicate the end of its sanctity, just as the tearing of a woman's veil means dishonouring her (Hamasa, Frcytag, i. 141). It is a curious fact that Jewish tradition also records the occurrence of certain prodigies about this time. Josephus {BJ VI. V. 3) enumerates several po…
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2. His own conduct during His ministry is the best commentary on His teaching. It is true that there is much denunciation of evil {e.g. Mt 23), 792 VENGEANCE VERILY that He upbraided for their unbelief the cities where He had wrought His great miracles (Mt IP"*''- II), that He swept the Temple clear of those who ha…
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Literature. — Grimm-Thayer, Lex. s.vv. ; EGT, ad locc. cit. ; Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, ' Matthew ' ; Tholuck, Com. on Sermon on the Mount ; Goebel, Parables ; Sandaj- Headlam, Roinans ; Moule, Romaiis ; Stevens, Teaching of Jesus ; Wendt, I'eaching of Jesus ; Hastings' DB, artt. ' Anger (Wrath) of God,'…
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' Vicarious sacrifice ' is not a Scripture expression, but is used by theologians to represent the meaning of a large number of passages found in the NT, in which the substitutionary character of Jesus' suffer- ings are referred to, as, e.g., the one in which Jesus describes the end of His coming as a \&rpov clptI TToW…
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794 VICARIOUS SACRIFICE VICARIOUS SACRIFICE founding of His Kingdom He devoted Himself with singleness of heart, understanding well the hazard it involved ; for He realized the tradition- alism of the age, its formalism, its lack of spiritual vision, its worldly lust and ambition, and He knew full well the oppositio…
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Another passage in the Synoptics which has been made to do service in attempts to explain the nature of Jesus' vicarious sacrifice and its relation to the remission of sins, is His utterance upon the cross. The depth of agony there expressed in the cry, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' is said to indicate …
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We conclude, therefore, that we do not find in the Synoptics any teaching which warrants the theological deduction often made, that the vicari- ous sacrifice of Christ is an offering made to .satisfy the justice of God, propitiate Him in the sense of removing His displeasure, or secure the remission of sins by removing…
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{b) In the Epistles of St. John we come upon passages which seem more dogmatic, notably 1 Jn V 2"- 3^^ 4^". In these passages, as in the Fourth Gospel, we have clearly set forth the fact that the work of Christ originates in the love of God, and is ' a move on His part to provide a covering of sins.' The word iXaa/ids,…
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Because of these characteristics, we are, in interpreting St. Paul, to observe the following principles : (1) Not to be too literal or exact in method, or to crowd his figures. (2) To understand that we have to do not simply with the revelation of Christ, but with the reflexion of a man of deep religious feel- ing, 'fi…
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(3) There are certain ohstarles to God's free for- giving grace vMch must be overcome.-^ (n) Such an obsitacle is not the ethical nature of God, or His justice, which demands a propitiatorj'' otterin,'{ or substitute in punishment to make it possible for Him consistently to forgive. This idea is entirely out of harmon…
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There is, however, according to St. Paul, one thing necessary in order to make it pos.sible for (Jod to forgive, and that is, His opposition to sin must be shown. He must be Himself revealed as One who wants men to leave off sinning and become righteous. God could not be satisfied without pro- viding some adequate leve…
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(5) The vicarious sacrifice of Christ becomes avail- able through faith. — Men cannot maintain a passive relation to Christ and be saved from sin ; they must join themselves to Him by a living faith. r VICARIOUS SACRIFICE VICARIOUS SACRIFICE 799 They iiuist die witli Him on the cross, and rise with Him to newness …
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(2) In the Scriptures the doctrine is largelj' ex- pressed in figures, and symbols, and current con- ceptions which make its interpretation difficult, and have led to much misunderstanding. Many theories have been built up on what close analysis shows to be only a metaphor, or Jewish sacrificial term. We must not strai…
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(11) Salvation through the appropriation of Christ's vicarious sacrifice is a continuous process, and not a finished work. His life and death are historic facts, but they are perpetuated in their meaning in this, that Christ has passed into the heavens, where He abides as our perpetual Mediator. He was ' raised for our…
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inasmuch as ' in the OT, and partially in Jewish thought, the vine was the symbol of Israel, not in their national, but in their Church capacity' (Edersheim, LT ii. 520; cf. Jn 15). See next article. The fig and the vine are often closely associated (Lk 13^). The mod. Arab, harm stands for both vineyard and fig-orchar…
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Such is the course of the allegory. The follow- ing points in connexion with it may be briefly discus.sed : 1. What is meant by the tnie {aK-qdivy)) vine ? It is often taken as suggesting that the natural vine only imperfectly represents the idea of the communion of Christ with believers. But why should the vine be se…
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Each of the ways of regarding the verses in question yields a view of the relationship of the believer and Christ to one another which seems to be true in fact, and to harmonize with the general Johannine conception of that relationship. To have Christ's words abiding in us is a phrase which, in view of the importance …
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Literature. — The various commentaries and works on NT theologj' ; Wendt, Lehre Jesu, ii. 497 f.; Weiss, Die johan. Gtundbegriffe, § 8 ; van Koetsveld, De GeUjkenissen van den Zaliijmaker, ii. 194-204. For homiletical treatment see Mac- laren, Holy of Holies, 168 ff. ; Macmillan, Bible Teachings in Nature, 174 ; A. Why…
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(Stdferat is, however, usually taken as Passive in Mt 1112 ('suffereth violence,' AV and RV ; 'is gotten by force,' AVm ; vim patitur, Vulg. ; /Staiojy KpareiTai, Hesychius). The image may be taken from the storming of a city or from forcing an entrance through an opposing army : the word is used in Thucyd. Hist. vii. …
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Dalman (The Words of Jesus, pp. 139-143, Eng. tr.) in an important section, the substance of which is here transcribed, seeks to find the probable Aramaic antecedent of /3(a$£T«j. A. Meyer suggests Jpn, cf. Dn 718- 22 ; but this would mean merely 'to take possession of,' and would hardly cause one writing in Greek to u…
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In social life and as a member of the Jewish nation, Jesus, during His earthly life, would neces- sarily be regarded as Joseph's son. As Dalman has pointed out, ' If no other fatherhood was alleged, then the child must have been regarded as be- stowed by God upon the liouse of Joseph'; and while Joseph was alive, Mary …
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1. The Gospel sources. — The question really narrows itself down to one concerning the amount of credibility that is to be attached to the Gospel narratives of the Nativity contained in Mt 1-2 and Lk 1-2. This is not the place to enter into a full discussion of these narratives as a whole, or to repeat what has already…
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§ J. Estlin Carpenter, ib. p. 487 f. II The Messiah of the Gospels, p. 50. il Cf. the tratislations in the Hebrew New Testaments. some edifying purpose in view, and the list in Lk 3^3-38 seems to be no exception to the rule. The striking feature about it is that it traces the descent of Jesus right up to Adam [the s…
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The obviously mythological figure in Rev 12 of the woman 'arrayed with the sun' who 'was delivered of a son,' if it is derived from an earlier Jewish source, shows that the Baby- lonian myth was not unfamiliar among apocalyptic circles within Judaism. It can hardly, however, have influenced or suggested the Jewish-Chri…
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* The poetical pieces are not confined to the 'Canticles' usual! V recognized, but include the words of the Annunciation (Lk I'-i'S- so-ss. »5-37) as well as other pieces. t Briggs, Messiah 0/ the Gospels, p. 42 ff. t Op. cit. p. 490. 808 VIRGIN BIRTH VIRGIN BIRTH soil for such beliefs in the popular feeling and …
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In order to overcome this difficulty. Professor Cheyne is driven to conjecture ' that in some of the early Jewish versions of the Oriental myth of the Divine Redeemer (which has not, so far as we know as yet, been preserved) the mother of the Holy Child was called a " virgin " ' (Bible Problems, p. 81). And, further, i…
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The evidence suggests that the secret of Jesus' birth was not at first generally made known. ' The doctrine of the Virgin Birth was not generally re- vealed in the earlier part of the Apostolic Age.' Mr. Arthur Wright (Synopsis 2, p. xlii) believes it ' to have been kept back until conflict with heresy brought it forwa…
995 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical reference work (1906–1908); OCR text from Internet Archive. Historical scholarship and terminology reflect its era; OCR may contain errors. Verify quotations and current scholarly claims independently.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.