Q. 100. 1 Timothy 5:9-16. The difficulty is, if widows over 60 only, should be taken into the number of those relieved by the assembly, and thus exclude all others under that age being relieved. Does not ver. 16 suppose relationship and means? J. H.
A. We think the whole passage is strictly literal. The widows who were under 60, were not to be kept by the church and natural relationships are meant in ver. 16.
With reference to Q. 121 a correspondent asks whether it is possible to distinguish between the blood, cross, and death of Christ, and we would say that while it is impossible to separate them, we think Scripture fully bears out the distinction drawn in the answer. With a view of showing this forcibly and distinctly, we add the principal passages in which the words respectively occur.
Blood.
Matthew 26:20. —This is my blood of the new testament. Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25.
John 6:54. —Whoso...drinketh my blood hath eternal life.
John 19:34. —Forthwith came there out blood and water.
Acts 20:28. —The church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Romans 3:25. —A propitiation through faith in his blood.
Romans 5:9. —Being now justified by his blood.
1 Corinthians 10:16. —The cup... the communion of the blood of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:27. —Guilty of the body and flood of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:7. —Redemption through his blood. Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:9.
Ephesians 2:13. —Are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:20. —Having made peace through the blood of his cross.
Hebrews 9:12. —By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place.
Hebrews 9:14. —The blood of Christ... purge your conscience.
Hebrews 10:19. —Boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 12:24. —The blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews 13:12. —That He might sanctify the people with His own blood.
1 Peter 1:2. —Elect unto ... sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:7. —The blood of Jesus Christ ... cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 5:6. —Came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:5. —Washed us from our sins in His own blood.
Revelation 7:14. —Washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
Cross.
1 Corinthians 1:18. —The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.
Galatians 5:11. —Then is the offense of the cross ceased.
Galatians 6:14. —The cross... whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Ephesians 2:16. —That He might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in one body by the cross.
Philippians 2:8. —Even the death of the cross.
Philippians 3:18. —Many walk... enemies of the cross of Christ.
Colossians 2:14. —Handwriting of ordinances... nailed to His cross.
Hebrews 12:2 —Jesus... endured the cross, despising the shame.
2 Corinthians 13:4 —He was crucified through weakness.
Death.
Romans 5:10. —We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.
Romans 6:3. —Were baptized into His death.
Romans 6:4. —Buried with him by baptism unto death.
1 Corinthians 11:26. —Ye do show the Lord’s death.
Philippians 2:8. —He became obedient unto death.
Philippians 3:10 —Being made conformable unto His death.
Hebrews 2:9. —That He... should taste death for every man.
Hebrews 2:14. —Through death he might destroy... the devil.
Romans 5:8. —While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Romans 6:8. —Now if we be dead with ‘Christ. Colossians 2:10. .
1 Corinthians 15:3. —Christ died for our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:15. —He died for all.
2 Corinthians 4:10. —Bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.