Impartation of Spiritual Gifts

[Note:  This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1  page.] In 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, Paul listed nine miraculous “manifestations” of the Spirit. These gifts were scattered among various members, with some apparently receiving no gift at all (vv. 28–30). Since possession…

“Repent” or “Perish”

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles page. Jesus twice stated, “except ye repent, ye shall…perish” (Luke 13: 3–5). His statement signals the indispensable place of repentance in the scheme of redemption. We will thus do well to understand its meaning…

Resist Satan in the Faith—1 Peter 5:5–14

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction Bible students have long noticed that those who were truly inspired of God were able to express the most sublime concepts with the greatest economy of words. The first letter from the…

First or Twenty-first?

[Note: This MS is available ilarger font on our Brief Articles 1 page.] Jesus promised to build His church, which He identified as his spiritual kingdom (Mat. 16:18–19; John 18:36). Gabriel told Mary that Jesus, the Son she would conceive of the Holy Spirit, would fulfill…

Eternal Life Is in the Son—1 John 5:9–13

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction John gives the infidelity of the Gnostic heretics, which apparently constitutes the setting of John’s first epistle, one final broadside in 1 John 5. In verses 1–8, the apostle discussed some of the practical…

Matthew 15—A Commentary

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction The events described in the beginning of Matthew 15 took place in Galilee, where Jesus was attracting throngs of people by His mighty words and deeds. News of His miracles had spread…

Christ Ascends and the Disciples Wait—Acts 1:1–26

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction The book of Acts is a transitional book between the Gospel accounts and the remainder of the New Testament. The first chapter of Acts is likewise a transitional chapter in several respects:…

Denominationalism—Its Causes, Contradictions, Consequences, and Cures

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page.] Introduction The Apple Online Dictionary defines the religious connotation of denomination as “a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.” The honest and perceptive student of Scripture realizes that Christianity in the days…

The Church—Purposed of God

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Long Articles page.] Introduction Is the church Jesus promised to build a “new kid on the block” in God’s eternal purpose? When Jesus announced to the apostles, “I will build my church” (Mat. 16:18), was…

The Church in Jerusalem

[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Manuscripts page. Introduction On the Pentecost following our Lord’s resurrection and ascension “there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven,” plus numerous proselytes (Acts 2:5, 10).1 One historian estimates that…