Notes on Former Queries: Vol. 2, 224; 260; 222

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Q. 224. The plain meaning of Matthew 11:1212And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12) is undoubtedly that to enter the kingdom it was necessary to exercise strong faith, which is appropriately termed violent. The obstacles which had to be overcome by it were great. John the Baptist had to be received as the Elias of Malachi 4:55Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: (Malachi 4:5). The King had come, but not in manifested glory and power, indeed, had come in lowly grace; and to receive both John as Elias, and Jesus as the Christ, needed the exercise of violent faith, i.e. faith which would force through all the difficulties which opposed it, in order to take and enter the kingdom. Luke gives us the same truth. (Luke 16:1616The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16)). The same word as used by Matthew is translated here “presseth” in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version it is rendered “violently.” So every man entering into the kingdom of God useth violence, or enters by strong, violent, overcoming faith. The “every man” are those pressing into the kingdom, not that every man enters into the kingdom, but every man who did, did so by the exercise of violent pressing faith. Your correspondent J. L. p. 306, makes a mistake by confounding the word used in these scriptures with that used in Romans 1:1818For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18). In these it is to take violently, but the word translated in Romans 1:1818For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18), “hold” in the Authorized Version, and “hold down” in the Revised Version, can only have application when there is possession. So the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down, retain or repress the truth which they know or have possession of, in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God is manifest to them etc. This scripture proves idolatry of every kind with its vile practices to be inexcusable, by reason of the truth of God’s eternal power and Godhead being manifest to men in creation. Indeed, it justifies the revelation of the wrath of God from heaven against unrighteousness. C. F.
We may have occasion to refer to the passage in Romans in our first conversation, and therefore we would here only say that we think the meaning is very clear referring simply to those who had a knowledge of the truth which they held in unrighteousness. They might be orthodox but unrighteous. —Ed.
Q. 260. The Book of Kings apparently gives us the effect on the nation at large, which was in no way altered by Manasseh’s repentance (2 Kings 24:3,43Surely at the commandment of the Lord came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; 4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon. (2 Kings 24:3‑4)). Chronicles gives more the personal history of the sons of David: thus the sin of Asa, of Joash, of Uzziah, is given in much greater detail in Chronicles, affecting as it did the individual rather than the nation But the sin of Solomon is given in Kings only, its consequence being the division of the kingdom (l Kings 11:31-35). S. C.
This use of the word “visitation” is very interesting, and it is possible that 1 Peter 2:1212Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12) may refer to a visitation in mercy with the gospel instead of in judgment. One reason for thinking it to be the latter is that it is here spoken of as something still future. 1 Peter 3:1616Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1 Peter 3:16) we think refers to a present shame felt by those who subsequently see the good and righteous walk of those whom they have accused. Ed.