Correspondence

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
7. C. A. S., Brixton. There does not appear to be any point of truth involved in the use of “kosinos,” in Matt. 4:88Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (Matthew 4:8), and “oikoumenee” in Luke 4:55And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (Luke 4:5). It is quite true the latter is never used in the New Testament for the material globe; but, as in Matt. 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14) and Luke 2:11And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1), for the people or kingdoms of the world. “Kosmos” is frequently used in the same sense, and also to denote the material globe. See the following examples of both: Matt. 5:14; 13:35, 3814Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14)
35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 13:35)
38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 13:38); Luke 11:5050That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; (Luke 11:50); John 1:10; 3:16, 17; 17:910He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:10)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16‑17)
9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (John 17:9); Heb. 4:33For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3), and many others.
“God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Luke adds, “for all live unto Him.” Unto men the departed are dead, and their graves are with us, with the body sown in corruption; but they live to God, as may be seen in Moses being with Christ on the mount. So that whilst they are dead as to the body, they are alive as to the spirit. Matt. 22:3232I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:32) and Rom. 14:99For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. (Romans 14:9) are in perfect harmony. God is the God of the living as to departed spirits, and in that sense Jesus is the Lord both of the departed dead as to their spirits, and also of those who are still ‘here alive in the body. He is also Lord as to those who have eternal life and will be raised at His coming, and Lord also of “the rest of the dead., who lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” “And I saw the dead, small. and great, stand before God.” Men may despise and reject Him now, they will have to stand before Him then.
8. A. C., Deptford. The address in 2 John is to the elect lady; therefore the word elect would be specially applicable to her. John had found of her children walking in the truth. (Ver. 4.) Verse 5, “And now I beseech thee, lady.” The assembly is not addressed in John’s epistles. But here it is the responsibility of the elect lady to refuse such as have not the truth of the Father and the Son; or whosoever goeth beyond or addeth to the doctrine of Christ.
The use of the term “elect lady,” does not imply that her children who were walking in the truth were not the elect. Surely those wondrous words “elect of God, holy and beloved (Col. 3:1212Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12)) are applicable to every child of God on earth. Error did so abound, even by the end of the first century, that John rejoiced greatly to find any walking in the truth. If so then, how much more so now! May every thought be tested by the word of God, “For many deceivers are entered into the world.” And though we are to love one another, yet we are not to be misled by the pretensions of love. “This is love that we walk after his commandments.”