Correspondence: Prophesying; Salvation

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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Question: I have often wondered what it meant by a woman prophesying, since she was forbidden to speak in an assembly of people.
Answer: Philip had four daughters that prophesied (Acts 21:8-98And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:8‑9); 1 Cor. 11:55But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. (1 Corinthians 11:5)). The Scriptures were not completed then, and God could and did reveal His mind on certain occasions, such as Acts 11:28; 21:10-1128And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11:28)
10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. (Acts 21:10‑11). God made an unconverted priest, Caiaphas, to prophesy (John 11:49-5249And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:49‑52)). In none of these cases was it speaking in the assembly, and these communications of Philip’s daughters could be conveyed to the assembly if it was given for that purpose by their father or by any brother.
Question: Please explain: “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 1 Peter 4:1818And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:18).
Answer: The first Epistle of Peter shows the privileges of the saints under the government of God in their earthly journey. Peter wrote to the converted Jews, who, with all the other Jews, were driven out of Palestine and scattered among the Gentiles (1 Peter 1:11Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (1 Peter 1:1)) by the Romans. Their spiritual blessings are spoken of (verses 2-9, 18-19, 23; and many other passages), so that their eternal salvation was secured without a doubt.
The Jew had all to suffer banishment, but the Christians had, as well, to suffer for well doing (2:20; 3:17), and also for Christ’s sake (4:13-16), and with this last, a reward of heavenly glory was promised (4:13; 5:10; Matt. 5:11-1211Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11‑12)). And already the spirit of glory and of God rested on them (4:14).
But they were allowed to go through troubles and fiery trials in the judgment of God’s house, upon them in discipline, and in it, they were to commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator, and if this judgment began with the Christian, what would the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? It is thus, the righteous were saved through difficulties; the trials and judgments which beset them, as of the Jewish nationality; and the poor unsaved had the sufferings, but nothing but eternal woe at the end as Christ rejectors.