The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-05-20

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be saved, even as they."-Acts 15:lI.
TIME.-About 50 A D. as is commonly
agreed, though various scholars place IT
earlier
PLACE.-Antioch in Syria, and JerCr
lem.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
V. l. Certain men," perhaps those
sent by James (Gal. 2: 12) came
down from Judea." The Bean text
says that these visitors were Phari-
sees, members of the strictest sect of
the Jews. Perhaps they came to in
vestigate rumors of laxity in the
church; at any rate, they taught the
brethren" 1.-THE verb is in the imper-
feet, implying continued actiOn.-they
kept teaching), and said Except We
be circumcised We cannot be
saved "A very different doctrine
from st. Pauls' Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved
(Acts 16:3D. "-Rackham
The Importance of the Question:
The Christian church, during its first
20 years, had spread over Palestine,
Phoenicia, Damascus, Antioch, Cyprus
was rapidly growing especially among
the Gentiles. The difference that had
arisen set off against each other the
two great centers of growth, Jerusa-
I'm and Antioch. 1t threatened to di-
vide the Christian churches into two
contending and irreconcilable fac
lions. If that happened, it would
probably be the deathblow to the
young religion. the destruction of the
hopes Of the world through Christ.
/ Could any matter be more momen-
tous?
V. 2. They C'the brethren" v. u
determined that Paul and Barnabas.
and certain other of them Including
! Titus, Gal. 2: /, afterward Paul's com
| panion, Greek, a man of much abil-
, ity, who would serve as a specimen
of the Gentle converts) should go up
to Jerusalem 1900 miles away about
! this question" Paul went by revela-
ton" (Gal. 2: p, which is entirely
| consistent with the statement that the
church sent him.
After much debate, that everyone
/ ShDlcSS HIS Nlt"S, DIS is proper
in democratic assembly such as all
! Christian gatherings should be, Peter
spoke up. His nearness to Christ and
his strong character combined to
make him leader. Moreover, in this
case he had had personal experience
! which placed him on Paurs side-the
divine revelation bidding him go to
. hn M 81,
! ing of the Spirit upon that convert
and his household. 1t was precisely,
such witness to the right of the G
tiles to enter the church without
cumcision as Paul himself described
from his missionary experience. Peter
! insisted upon it with characteristic
vigor, closing with the pointed ques-
ton, why put a yoke upon
the neck of the (Gentile) disciples.
which neither our fathers nor we
were able to bear ?"-the yoke being
the minute oppressive rites OF Juda-
ism, with the Pharisaic additions, i'm
posed as condition of salvation
There is only one condition of saliva
ton, said Peter in concMsion,-"the
s. oSC 'NlIC nee CIV, ul1UOuSul ny any
deed of ours) of the Lord Jesus
Christ" AS Peter sat down, Paul
must have clapped his hands,
| The decision embodied in a Letter:
! % To clarity and unity judgment in
the preparation Of it; CD to guard
against slips of memory on the part
OF the ENJOYS: go to prevent misun-
Il
ture occasions the results of the con-
ference. Capt Cuttle's advice, When
found, make a note on" applies to all
weighty matters
The reasons for the restrictions:
l. The "polutions OF idols" ". 20).
explained as meats offered to idols"
". 29), came TO be a sore trouble in
the church, and liberty to eat such
meat tthe meat commonly sold had
nearly all formed part of sacrifces)
was at later time claimed for Chris
tians very strenuously by Paul But
i until the Gentle churches were con
irmed in their new separation from
idolatry, il was wise to REQUIRE them
TO abstain from whatever might tempt
them with memories OF the licentious
revels which heathenism celebrated
in the name of religion
2. "Fornication," however. was the
great sin of idolatry, which "glorified
sexual vice with the halo of a sacred
sanction. "-Schaff. Courtezans were
the priestesses of the temples of We
nus, and crowds of abandoned women
| gathered around most of these So
called holy shrines. To this day, sex
ual immortality is the terrible sin of
idoatry as the missionary annals of
Africa, India, China, Japan and the
South seas most abundantly show.
3. Things strangled," meant the
flesh of such animals as were killed in
snares, and whose blood was not
poured forth. "-Gloag. The Jews were
forbidden TO eat these, as coming I'M
der the larger restriction that follows:
a Blood" was forbidden the h
as an article of diet (Inductive Srudy
! y because blood was symbol of life.
which was TO be held sacred. and of
sacrifice which was to be revered 1t
was the holy token Of the remission
of sin Heb. g: 22). Their most pre-
I csp,,u roIfui,,,y {J,.Ie ~