304 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. Il.
the contents of “the sound teaching” (1 Tim. i. 10), which is “according to godliness” (1 Tim. vi. 8), and which is depos- ited in it. “The mystery of godliness” is intrusted to it (1 Tim. iii. 16). Its servants possess “the mystery of the faith” (1 Tim. iii. 9). In 1 Cor. iii. 11, Christ is repre- sented as “the chief corner-stone.” In Eph. ii. 20, the church is built “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,” with Christ as the corner-stone, and grows into a “holy temple (vadv) in the Lord.” Here, the church itself is the foundation, and the building is conceived as a great dwelling-house. While the conception of the church here does not contradict that of Paul, the difference is apparent between it and the conception in Ephesians, where the church is the seat of the indwelling and energy of the Holy Spirit. Comp. 1 Cor. iii. 16,17. epecs firm only here, Heb. v. 12, 14, and 1 Pet. v. 9 (mote). “Eornxev standeth, in contrast with overthrow (ver. 18).
Seal (cdpayiéa). Mostly in the Apocalypse. Only here in Pastorals. In Paul, Rom. iv. 11; 1 Cor. ix. 2. Used here rather in the sense of inscription or motto. Comp. Deut. vi. 9; xi. 20; Apoc. xxi. 14. There are two inscriptions on the foundation stone, the one guaranteeing the security, the other the purity, of the church. The two go together. The purity of the church is indispensable to its security.
The Lord knoweth them that are his (éyv@ xvpios Tovs évras avrov). The first inscription: God knows his own. Comp. Num. xvi. 5; 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For éyvw knoweth, see on Gal. iv. 9. Zhem that are his, his ékrextol chosen; see ver. 10: Titei. L: Romovit. oo; Cola. 12s 2 Peto. : Apoce. xvii. 14. Not, however, in any hard, predestinarian sense.* Comp. J. x. 14; Matt. vii. 23; L. xiii. 25, 27.
* As in the Westminster Confession, where this passage is cited as a proof- text of the dogma that those ‘‘ angels and men’ who are ‘‘ predestinated and foreordained”’ to everlasting life or death, ‘‘are particularly and unchange- ably designed: and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.’”? Ch. III., Sect. iv.
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Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. The second inscription, concerning the purity of the church. For of Christ rend. of the Lord (xupiov). "Ovopatav nameth, only here in Pastorals. It means to give a name to, to style,as Mk. iii. 14; L. vi. 14; 1 Cor. v.11: to pronounce a name as having a special virtue, as in incantation, as Acts xix. 13: to utter a name as acknowledging and appro- priating what the name involves, as a confession of faith and allegiance. So here. Comp. Rom. xv. 20; 1 Cor. v. 11; Isa. xxvi. 138. For dvowa name, see on 1 Th. i. 12. ’Asroc- THT@ aro adikias depart from iniquity. For the verb, see on 1 Tim. iv. 1. Mostly in Luke and Acts. Comp. Num. xvi. 26; Isa. li. 11. Whatever may be implied in God’s election, it does not relieve Christians of the duty of strict attention to their moral character and conduct. Comp. Philip. i. 12. The gift of grace (Eph. ii. 8) is exhibited in making one a coworker with God (1 Cor. iii. 9). The sal- vation bestowed by grace is to be “carried out” (Philip. ii. 12) by man with the aid of grace (Rom. vi. 8-19; 2 Cor. vi. 1). What this includes and requires appears in Philip. iii. 10; iv. 1-7; Eph. iv. 138-16, 22 ff. ; Col. ii. 6, T.
20. But the church embraces a variety of characters. Unrighteous men steal into it. So, in a great household establishment there are vessels fit only for base uses.