“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:1-4).
We will endeavor, our dear listeners, in search of the connection between the different parts of these verses.
First, the apostle lays down a Christian’s duty- “Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.” After that he brings forward as the sanction of that duty, the spirit of the Life of Christ– “For even Christ pleased not Himself.” Next, he adds an illustration of that principle by a quotation from Psalm 69: – “It is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me.” Lastly, he explains and defends that application of the psalm, as if he had said, I am perfectly justified in applying that passage to Christ, for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.'”
So that in this quotation, and the defense of it as contained in these verses, we have the principle of Apostolic interpretation; we have the principle upon which the apostles used the Old Testament Scriptures and we are enabled to understand their view of inspiration, This scriptures, is one of the most important considerations upon which we can be at this moment engaged. It is the deepest question of our day: the one which lies beneath all others, and in comparison, of which the questions just now agitating the popular mind– whether of Papal jurisdiction or varieties of Church doctrine in our own communion–are but superficial: it is this grand question of Inspiration which is given to this age to solve.
Our programs will break itself up into questions such as these-What the Bible is, and what the Bible is not? What is meant by inspiration? Whether inspiration is the same thing as infallibility? When God inspired the minds, did He dictate the words? Does the inspiration of men mean the infallibility of their words? Is inspiration the same as dictation? Whether, granting that we have the Word of God, we have also the words of God? Are the operations of the Holy Spirit inspiring men, compatible with partial error, as His operations in sanctifying them are compatible with partial evil? How are we to interpret and apply the Scriptures?
As always, we have other projects under development that might be interesting to you. Come and download numerous Christian books, listen to our programs, see several video lessons based on Russian Christian art, look at pictures of beautiful Alaska, the home of our first radio station, KNLS.
Thanks for reading and for listening!
