Truth Magazine

By Wallace H. Little

I subscribe to a number of publications put out by liberal and modernistic brethren on the theory, “If your enemy writes a book, buy it; he’ll tell you what he is going to try to do to you.” The reading is sometimes more than merely amusing; it is startling. In one recently I read a letter to the editor from one of the “brilliant,” young, wild, woolly, way-out-types trying to destroy God’s church like termites destroy a house. He said that after many years of listening to Church of Christ preachers (yep, we got some of ’em) who learned their doctrine from the collective positions of the Church of Christ newspapers (we have some of these, also), he finally discovered the “truth” on a particular passage of Scripture. Where did he learn this “truth?” From a denominational commentary, that’s where’!’ Q. E. D.

The “absurdity” part of my title is the following: (a) supposing Church-of-Christ newspapers, plural, have a common “position” on anything; and (b) even the writers for a single paper agree on all things they write about; and (c) Church-of-Christ preachers (I am glad he didn’t say “gospel preachers”) would be governed by “the position” of one or all the various papers on any subject; and (d) all, or even a majority of Church-of Christ preachers subscribe to enough Church-of-Christ papers to be sure of what the “official position” is; and finally, and most important (e) if (and let me stress this “if” because his point of “truth” was on one of the relatively few doctrinal issues on which nearly all of the preachers I know agree)-if the “Church-of-Christ position” causes one to drink from a spiritually muddy stream, how can he expect to get purer water from the polluted wells of denominationalism.

Now all this is bad enough. This man stands to lose his soul and lead all he can influence to hell, and that is a catastrophe. Twenty years ago, in disgust over the rigid legalism of God’s church, he would have left and found a religious home more suited to his rebellious temperament. Today, however, things are different. In January 1971, along with Hayse Reneau and 20 other “anti” preachers, I attended the First Annual Preachers’ Workshop at ACC, in Abilene, Texas. With hundreds of liberal preachers, we were treated to an enlightening program sparked by one-third of the speakers who, by Webster’s definition, were out-and-out modernists. Twenty years ago, they too would have left God’s people for that particular brand of Satan’s religious organization which pleased them best. Again, today it is different, with a vengeance!

Commenting to Hayse, I said something to the effect the modernists did not even have to fight to take over the liberal portion of the church. All they have to do is wait. In time, lock, stock and barrel would fall to them. The reason is simple, and it takes no prophet to see it. For decades, liberal brethren preached their “nopattern” philosophy, training their young people in this, though stopping short of its full application. They accepted only what they wanted-congregational support of the Herald of Truth, orphans’ homes and sometimes colleges. But they raised a generation of heretics who took the “no-pattern” nonsense a good deal further than their teachers intended. Now here is the rub: our so-called middle-of-the-road liberal brethren have no intention of going to the “anti’s” for sound men to fill their editorships, college positions, and “big, important pulpits.” But the only other resource they have is the modernists they nurtured, and who are set to destroy them!

The “idiocy” of the title is that the trip which the liberals are taking is one from which very few return. Some, as this young letter writer, are leading them. Study carefully 2 Thess. 2:10-12.

Truth Magazine, XX, 1, p. 10-11
January 1, 1976

By Jimmy Tuten, Jr.

There is a certain ambiguity attached to the English word “perfect,” particularly as it appears in various passages of the New Testament in the King James Version. Most people look upon the word as referring to sinlessness. The disciple of the Lord should indeed be perfect, but not in the sense that some of the sects use the word in their teaching and preaching. The most satisfactory way to establish the meaning of the word as it is found in the New Testament, is to inquire into the usage of the Greek word from which it is translated. The most frequent words translated “perfect,” are the Greek words telefos (adjective form), and teleloo (verb form).

The Englishman’s Greek Concordance reveals the fact that telefos is translated “perfect,” one time it is translated “men” (1 Cor. 14:20), and in at least one instance it is translated “of full age” (Heb. 5:14). The verb form (teleloo) is translated “had fulfilled” (Lk. 2:43; Jno. 19:28), “perfected” (Heb. 10:14), “finished” (Jno. 14:4), and several times “made perfect.” Space will not allow our looking into the synonymous terms in the Greek.

Vine tells us that these two Greek words mean “Having reached its end, finished, complete, perfect.” Thayer’s Lexicon of The Greek New Testament gives the following meanings: brought to its end, wanting nothing necessary to completeness; when used of men it means full-grown, adult, of full age, mature. Arndt and Gingrich follow this definition in their Greek-English Lexicon of The New Testament. The word is used of persons and things.

“Perfect” With Reference To Persons

When used of persons the word perfect simply means attaining the full limits of stature, strength, and mental power within their reach. It conveys the idea of full; completed growth as contrasted with childhood. In Heb. 5:14, the writer says, “but strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age” (emphasis mine, JTT). The New American Standard Bible translates it, “but solid food is the mature.” It is obvious that telefos, translated “of full age,” is in contrast to the word “babe” verse 13. The idea behind “babe” is that of immaturity, being untaught, or unskilled and is so defined by the expression, “is unskillful in the word of righteousness” (Heb. 5:13). Those spoken of as being “of full age” (or, perfect) are those who are spiritually mature.

In Eph. 4:13-14 the contrast between the perfect man and the spiritually immature is made clear: “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children.” The “perfect man” of this text is the one who has attained “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” He has completed his growth (that for which he was intended), namely to be a man in Christ. Having reached this goal, there are higher ends to be reached, for one is to always “study to show thyself approved of God” (2 Tim. 2:15). This is precisely what Paul had in mind when he said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are behind,, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press onward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: . . .” (Phil. 3:13-15). In Phil. 3:12, Paul said he was not yet perfect, and in the text quoted above he admonishes those who have attained perfection to be thus minded. There is no contradiction! He is simply saying that he has not ,reached the place where further advances are not needed. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). When one reaches maturity there is still room for advances.

In connection with the foregoing remarks, one should have no problem understanding that the Christian can be perfect without being sinless (1 Jno. 1:6-8). They must strive for spiritual maturity, for to this end is the prayer of our Lord uttered: “that they may be perfect in one.”

“Perfect” With Reference To Things

Just as the word “perfect” is used with reference to persons, so it is applied to things in the New Testament:

(1) In Jas. 1:4 we are told to “let patience have her perfect work.” Patience means “abide under,” and in this instance, under trials (V. 3). This perfects the character of the Christian in that it causes one to want nothing to completeness. One should keep in mind that fellowship with Christ involves fellowship in His patience and this is one of the conditions upon which they will reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12). For this the Christian is strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man (Col. 1:11; Eph. 3:16).

(2) The Word of God is called the “perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25). This law of liberty wants nothing to completeness. Hence, the Christian is told to “speak ye, and so do, as they that be judged by the law of liberty” (Jas. 2:12).

(3) The love of God is said to be perfected. This takes place in “whoso keepeth his word” (1 Jno. 2:5). If we love one another, “his love is perfected in us” (1 Jno. 4:12). In these Scriptures, along with that of 1 Jno. 4:16, love for one another assures God’s presence and causes the Christian’s love to be perfected (1 Jno. 4:17).

(4) Faith that works is described as a faith made perfect (Jas. 2:22). The context is talking about Abraham who made his faith perfect in the sense that he made it complete in good works, i.e., submission to God. Abraham’s obedience consisted in preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac, hence, in submitting to God’s will. In this way it was made complete. When we submit to God’s will, our faith can be made perfect in the same sense. We then become the children of God by faith (Gal. 3:26-27).

(5) Another interesting passage in this respect is Heb. 9:9, “which is the figure for the time present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.” The conscience is spoken of as being perfect. What does this mean? It simply refers to the inability of the typical sacrifices themselves to bring the believer’s conscience to a state of completeness. The blood of goats and calves could not remove the sins of the people, and the very fact of the constant repetition of the sacrifices showed him that sin had not yet been actually paid for (Heb. 9:12-14). The blood of Christ purges the conscience, thus the obedient believers today have that complete sense of forgiveness which was lacking under the Old Testament (Heb. 10:14). Their appeal to God for a clear conscience is fulfilled and made perfect.

There are many other things in the New Testament that are referred to as being “perfect.” Space will not permit our covering all of these occurrences.

Conclusion

The brief study before us should help us to better understand the use of the word “perfect” in the New Testament. “Be ye therefore perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). The faithful child of God shall be “perfect” in that he will aim by the grace of God to be furnished and firmly established in the knowledge and practice of the things of God (Jas. 3:2; Col. 4:12). But merely having the presence of all the parts necessary to completeness is not enough. The Christian must adapt these parts for the ends which they were designed to serve. He is therefore furnished (2 Tim. 3:16-17), and accomplished for the carrying out of the work to which he is appointed. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit. 2:11-12). Let those who would be thus minded strive for perfection.

Truth Magazine, XX:1, p. 9-10
January 1, 1976

By Lowell D. Kibler

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Prov. 31:10, KJV). In our ever increasing immoral society women have indeed “come a long way, baby.” Our “playboy” philosophy has led our women to lose their virtue, to dishonor their God-given role in the home, to become “sex symbols” in show biz, to seek “equal rights” which ‘often is little more than unhindered display of profanity and immorality as though none else had any rights of protection from such, and to join the labor task force, all too often at the expense of the serenity and security that God intended the home to be. The generations that follow, having been spawned in ungodliness can only wax worse and worse. Children, repulsed by hypocrisy, rebel against the “old man” and the “old lady.” Not having seen nor been taught respect for authority they have little. Dear reader, our nation is in trouble because the home is in trouble. As the home goes, so ‘goes the nation. God intended that women play a significant role in the home. Someone has well written, and it applies in all things, “Are you part of the problem or part of the answer?” In a day in which being a housewife is looked down upon, we need to heed these words of Daniel Webster, “If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal souls, if we imbue them with principles, with the just fear of the Creator and love of fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something which will brighten all eternity.”

The righteous influence of a virtuous mother is graphically portrayed in Prov. 31:10-31. It is recommended that you turn and read these verses now, as they will constitute the basis for much that follows. The young evangelist Timothy was blessed to have a pious mother and grandmother, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Tim. 1:5). “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones” (Prov. 12:4). Let us look at Clark’s definition of virtuous taken from his commentary on Prov. 12:4, “A strong woman. Our word virtue (virtus) is derived from vir, a man; and as man is the noblest of God’s creatures, virtue expresses what is becoming to man; what is noble, courageous, and dignified: and as vir, a man, comes from vis, power or strength; so it implies what is strong and vigorous in principle; the denomination of all excellent moral qualities; and is now applied to what ever constitutes the system of morality and moral duties.” A person could be said to have virtue when they are capable of making distinction between right and wrong, when their character and conduct conform to that which is noble, pure, and right. Perhaps with this in mind, and with a brief look at the Bible description of a virtuous woman, we will be better informed and equipped to help reverse the breakdown of the home in our society.

Much of her character is seen in verses 25-31. Verse 30 shows her reverence for God. “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Not only does she have faith in but she respects Him who made the world and all that is in it. She is not. arrogantly and presumptuously proud, but humbles herself before the great I AM. She realizes that earthly favors and even fleshly appearance have no lasting value. Fleshly beauty is marred and deranged by sickness and suffering. It is completely gone in death. She realizes that to build a way of life upon such can only be vanity and bitterness in the end. Hers is the inward adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, valuable in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:4). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding, have all they that do his commandments . .” (Psa. 111:10). One does not truly have wisdom and , understanding while without fear of the Lord. This is the only foundation upon which any person can build a meaningful life, especially a mother.

The righteous commend the honor of those who know them best. The virtuous woman is no exception: “Strength and honor are her clothing” (v. 25). She is unspotted, she has.the confidence. of her husband. He can “safely trust in her” (v. 11). Her speech and manner do not arouse his suspicion and doubt. She is not a flirt with wayward eyes and thoughts. She knows and loves her place in life and handles herself discreetly. She knows she was created to be a help , suitable for her husband, not a ball and chain tied to his leg. She knows she is to be sober, to love her husband and children, to be discreet, chaste (not chased), a keeper at home, good and obedient to her own husband (Tit. 2:4-5). It is very doubtful that her husband would praise her (v. 28) if she did not practice these things. If all mothers were so disposed, there would be little “soap-opera” material today. It has been said that behind every good man there is a good woman. A woman can be a blessing or a curse, an angel or a Jezebel. “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman” (Prov. 21:19).

“She looketh well to the ways of the household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (v. 27). Hers is the sterling quality of cementing her love for her family by diligent devotion to the many tasks that need to be done. Done with a song on her lips and love in her heart, she works willingly and not grudgingly, creating an atmosphere of warmth and security.: But, oh, how often do we see immature teen-age brides today not even knowing how to cook an egg, wax a floor, or keep a house orderly and attractive. After a few months of eating out and living in a pigpen, the new husband cannot resist the nagging doubt of his wife’s love as she lays around reading romance stories of adultery if she is not watching the same on the daily TV programs while her child crawls around in the filth in danger of being hit on the head from a dirty pan falling from the high stack in the kitchen sink. Love declared but not demonstrated is indeed worthless. Mothers, are you teaching and showing your daughter the importance of such basic, common-sense necessities for success in life?

Look at the virtuous woman in verses 13, 21, 22, 24. “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.” I want you to focus your attention on the word “willingly.” Who can truly appreciate something done grudgingly? A wife who complains with every stroke of the scrub brush, who gripes, growls and snarls constantly at her family has little difficulty conveying to them that she-does not work willingly, hence with little if any love. But in contrast, we can see in verses 21, 22, and 24 that the virtuous woman has so willingly and industriously labored that she not only has her family supplied in clothing for the winter ahead but has excess that she might sell to provide other necessities. Can you imagine this woman allowing her daughters to parade around in provocative clothing while offering the flimsy excuse, “Well, that is all. you can buy at the stores these days.” What happened to the old-fashioned ingenuity and industry? In those days, they not only made the garments but also the cloth. I strongly suspect she made enough for more than a mini-skirt or bikini. Today with all our conveniences of ready made cloth, frills, and sewing machines, ,mothers’ seemingly cannot master the difficult art of lengthening a dress or making one of the proper length.-I suspect it is more unwilling than unable, of being more worldly minded than spiritual.

The virtuous woman is aware of the responsibility to properly feed her family. “She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and portion to her maidens” (vv. 14-15). It has been well said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. A man certainly appreciates a wife who can and willingly cooks delicious, healthy meals for him. Daughters allowed to grow up and enter marriage without this basic skill has indeed been neglected by her mother or herself.

All too often household duties are looked upon as hindrances as drudgery. Perhaps this poem will help. I do not now know the author.

Complex Career

It sounds so unimportant

“A housewife” so they say,

And yet how many people

She must be every day.

A cook, a nurse, a chauffeur,

Dressmaker, bugeteer,

A governess, adviser,

All steps in her career.

A secretary, a gardener,

A diplomat as well–

Executive and shopper,

But still there’s more to tell.

Companion to her husband,

Must always look her best,

And be a tireless creature

Immaculately dressed.

The house should be in order

If she’s at work or at play,

It sounds so unimportant,

“A housewife” so they say.

We can see the proper balance between the physical and the spiritual in the virtuous woman. Psa. 111:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . .” “She openeth her mouth.with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (v. 26). I believe we can safely conclude that her speaking includes that basic respect she has for the Lord. The “looking well to the ways of her household” would include teaching them of the Lord. Too many mothers allow TV to occupy much of the short and precious time we have to teach them of the word and ways of God. “. . . in her tongue is the law of kindness.” This is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Again she demonstrates it by giving to the poor and needy, v. 20.

Value of Time

Because of physical and spiritual duties zealously performed, she is an economist of time. She “. . . eateth not the bread of idleness” (v. 27), and “She riseth also while it is yet night . . .” (v. 15). There will always linger in my mind the memory of a mother who was up before the break of day to tend not only to outside chores on the farm but to see that her family had a hearty breakfast. She was busy all day and yet after set of sun with a song on her lips. I doubt she will ever realize the value of the time she took to read her son some Bible stories.

Mothers, do you allow an idle mind to become the devil’s workshop?

The reward of the virtuous woman is seen in v. 10, . . . her price is far above rubies.” “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellent them all” (vs. 28, 29). She would not have the honor of those nearest were she not truly virtuous.

Conclusion

I readily acknowledge that a slothful and immoral husband can indeed mar the home picture, but he does not come within the scope of this essay. The virtuous woman had a husband “known in the gates” and who sat “among the elders of the land” (v. 23). Husbands, fathers do you measure up? Young man, think before you marry. If you want a virtuous wife, marry a virtuous girl. Girls, you have much to learn to make a future home as God intended (1 Tim. 5:14). It begins with making the right choice for a husband. Rare are those capable of doing so at the tender age of 16. Determine to so live that when you are an aged mother, the following poem could be said of you:

A Portrait of Mother

Paint her as you see her, artist,

Let the lines and wrinkles show,

And the silver hair that crowns her

Like a halo’s beauteous glow.

Can you picture on your canvas

All the years of sacrifice,

How she tended well her household,

Ever counting naught the price?

Let your brushes tell the story

Of her patient toil and care,

Mingle love with joy and sorrow

Just as life has put them there.

Blend your colors softly, artist

Face her toward the setting sun,

Smiling-calm-serene and peaceful,

For her task is almost done.

Call the portrait simply, `Mother,”

All the world will understand;

Nations thrive and empires prosper,

Guided by her gentle hand.

(author unknown to me-LDK)

Truth Magazine, XX:1, p. 5-8
January 1, 1976

By Roland Worth, Jr.

Sometimes we hear people question whether we can place trust in the accuracy of our Bible text: “Do we have it in virtually the exact form originally written? Have 4ections of the text been removed or added?” The answer is “yes” to the first question and “no” to the second.

Among the factors that drive us to this conclusion are the following:

First, from how accurately the manuscripts were preserved in later centuries we can make a fair projection backward that the manuscripts were accurately preserved at an earlier date as well.

Secondly, so many manuscripts have survived that they are a corrective to any errors that may have crept in. The chance of a given error being predominant throughout many centuries of manuscripts is most unlikely, the manuscripts being written in so many different locations by so many different people.

Thirdly, the same reasoning (to be consistent) would cause us to reject the textual integrity of other ancient authors as well. In their case, the date between composition and the earliest: surviving manuscript is often several times as long as in the case of the New Testament. Maisie Ward writes, “The earliest copy of Horace is nine hundred years after his death, of most of Plato thirteen hundred, of Euripides sixteen hundred; the earliest complete copy of the four Gospels is about two hundred and fifty years later than their writing” (They Saw His Glory: An Introduction To The Gospels And Acts, Sheed and Ward: New York, 1956, page 41).

The “Scholarly” Allure

The primary reason that such an argument will ever make way with the “scholarly” type of person is due to (lie fact that it provides him with an excuse to reject a particular doctrine that is found in the Biblical text. A good example of this is in regard to the Virgin Birth, it’s being argued by some that the first chapters of Luke (that contain the account) were not part of the original manuscripts. Being unable to prove this from the current Biblical text, they are compelled to postulate the existence of the text at an early date without those embarrassing chapters. The whole thing is subjective and without convincing evidence. Due to theological hostility to the contents of scripture, they attempt to arbitrarily junk whatever chapters do not fit thier materialistic prejudices. (For a detailed discussion of the first chapters of Luke, the reader should consult J. Gresham Machen, The Virgin Birth Of Christ, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1930, 1965.)

Conclusion

We can safely conclude taht we have an accurately preserved Biblical text, the best preserved text of any ancient document. However we should be aware that what “bugs” most people is not really whether that text has been well preserved but what is contained in that text, doctrines and beliefs that they do not desire to accept.

Truth Magazine, XX:1, p. 5-6
January 1, 1976