Year: 1874

HALVES.


Mr.. Editor,-It is not my ambition to have
the last word with brother Hawes, but l
would like to have one more opportunity to
compare views with him. 1t is very refresh
ing to meet with such an earnest and cour-
teOus Christian brother as your correspon-
dent, whose peculiar expoSitory views have
attempted to controVert with your permis-
sion. His adroitness has put me to my stud
les, and have the same difficulty with him
that Partisan naturalist had with one of
his specimens, " Put your finger on him and
he is not there" In his first article brother
Hawes gave prominence to Paul as the
preacher; in the reply however a new ele-
ment is introduced, the hearers themselves
are brought forward, not as partakers with
the Apostle in the saving benefits of the
gospel, but as co-workers with him in diffus-
ing the gospel by consistent profession,
and thus share with the Apostle the glory
due to the success of the gospel in winning
souls. Now this would be most startling
expository coup de main, if brother Hawes
were not so we'll known for his devotion to
truth and earnest desires to be useful as an
able and faithful minister of the New Tes-
lament. And there must be what he regards
as good reason for his Interpretation, and
it is found in the theory he adopts. His in
depreciation is on the assumption, or theory,
if one chooses to put it so, that Paul and his
Corinthian hearers have nothing in view but
" winning souls, as co-workers, and are to
strive with all their resources lest they come
short of this end, not their own salvation i;
for their salvation is already assured The
theory l incline to, with "many in places
high and low, is this Paul is doing all he
can to save himself and those who hear him.


To settle the issue involved in this friend.
ly comparison of views, I propose to leave
it to Paul himself, if, according to Conybeare
and HowSon, the following is an accurate
rendering of the Apostles words, recorded
in l Corinthians tx: 1927. 81 have become
all things to all men, that by all means 1
might save. And this l do to spread the
glad tidings of Christ, that I myself may
share therein with those who hear me. For
you know that in the races of the stadium,
though all may run, yet but one can gain
the prize, $50 run that you may win.) And
every man who strives in the matches, trains
himself by all manner of self-restraint; yet
they do it to win crown of fading leaves
we crown that cannot fade. / therefore,
run not like the races who is uncertain of
his good; 1 fight not as the pugiliSt who
strikes out against the air; but bring my
body into bondage, crushing it with heavy
blows lest, perchance, having called others
to the contest should myself fail shameful
ly of the prize"


This rendering in my judgment is fully
sustained by critical examination of the
original text The course the Apostle pur-
sued was for the purpose of spreading the
glad tidingS of salvation through Christ, that
he might share whatever blessing the gospel
bestOws along with those who hear him. And
then follows the impressive exhortation to
the effect, that life is race, contest; and
his hearers are admonished so to run that
they may obtain the prize-the crown of life.
He explains why it is he keeps the body
under, lest having melted others to the con-
test, he himself should be among the rejected
by failing to strive himself.


AS to what Paul meant by the prize to be
obtained when he employed the metaphors
of race or contest in his exhortations,
let US examine few examples, to ascertain
whether it was success in swimming souls
only" or personal salvation also.


1t is my impression that if brother HaweS
is in his views, the Apostle would not
have used such language as the following
when he wrote to the Philippians about six
years afterwards. "Brethren l count not
myself to have apprehended, but this one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus. Phil, iii: 13, IA. Eight years
later he writes to Timothy, eight the good
fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life"
Tim. vi: 12. And then about a year il
writing again to Timothy, he says; 81 have
fought good fight, I have finished my course
I have kept the faith. Henceforth there il
laid up for me crown of righteousness