Vol 20 Issue 08

I, the undersigned, B. Kok, have this to say, 1) Rev. Ophoff has taken exception to my statement in the Standard Bearer of January which reads as follows: “I also wish to inform our readers that we were both limited by the editor to five typewritten pages which is equivalent to about four columns of the Standard Bearer. But lo, instead of four, my opponent used up more than eleven columns, or about three times the space allotted him. By taking such undue advantage he has really forfeited all right of expecting an answer from me.” The brother maintains that...

The meeting of Jan. 5, 1944 was open­ed by Rev. H. Veldman in the usual way. The churches were all represented by two delegates except Randolph, which had sent only one. After the credentials were received, classis was declared constituted. From then on Rev. R. Veldman wielded the hammer and Rev. H. Veldman re­corded the minutes. The president speaks a word of wel­come to the delegates, including the delegates from Classis west who are present for the examination of Cand. W. Hofman. These delegates, the Revs. A. Cammenga, M. Gritter and G. Vos, as well as Rev. D. Jonker were...

(The Distribution of the Land) The united inheritance of Manasseh and Ephraim includes a fruitful country lying in the midst of Western Palestine. It extends from the Jordan, and the eastern slopes of mount Ephraim across to the shore of the Mediterranean. Of this entire district Ephraim received the southern portion, the half tribe of Manasseh the northern. Ephraim only, and he for a narrow space, touched the Jordan. The border between Ephraim and Manasseh is not clear nor the northern border of Manasseh. The sacred narrator makes mention of the fact that there was also a lot for the...

By way of introduction I should like to forestall any expectation that this essay will give a clear cut solution of the problems involved and a vest-pocket rule of conduct. In the first place the question is a very difficult one and no less a man than Dr. K. Schilder has said: To my mind there may be cases where limitation of the number of children is desirable, yea even demanded. In such a case there are measures to be used which I do not need to name specifically, because I as theologian find these measures indicated for us in...

The word communal refers to a commune and anything that pertains to it. A commune is defined as: the common people, a self-governing body, a municipal corporation. The word communal has, in the narrow sense of the word, a legal connotation and therefore has regard to all that which concerns the government of a legally constituted body or corporation. The word responsibility is a very common term with which we are all acquainted and may be defined as: the state of being accountable or answerable. Communal responsibility therefore refers to the responsibility of any commune, body, corporation, etc. It implies...

Thus far we spoke of God’s providential government only with respect to the world as it exists and moves. He controls and directs every movement and all the activity of the creature, anorganic and organic, brute and rational, good and evil. But God’s government of the world also implies that He directs the course of its history and development, from its beginning to its end, and that according to His eternal good pleasure, and unto the end He has in mind and determined upon before the foundation of the world. When a big ocean liner leaves the harbor and plows...

I also received the following communication: “Esteemed Editor: “The Men’s Society of Holland, MI, in their study of the second epistle of Peter have had some difficulty in coming to a clear explanation of II Peter 2:4, especially when Peter speaks of the angels being ‘cast down into hell.’ “Trusting that you will favor us with an explanation in The Standard Bearer, we remain, Your brethren in Christ, Protestant Ref. Men’s Society of Holland, MI. Henry Windemulder, Secretary.” The text reads as follows: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered...

One of our readers sent me a mimeographed pamphlet in which the question is discussed whether our Lord actually was crucified on Friday, and was raised about sunrise Sunday morning. The pamphlet was accompanied by the request on the part of the reader to express our opinion on its contents, and on the question itself. The author of the pamphlet was not mentioned, although throughout there is familiar note in it that makes one rather sure as to its origin. However, seeing that the document as I received it was not signed, my discussion can be quite impersonal. The author...

Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy saivation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. Ps. 119:41, 42 The apologia! The believer in this work; is conscious of the need of an apology, Not, indeed, in the modern sense of the word, as if he felt the need of apologizing, of making an excuse, of assuming a miserably weak defensive position over against the world that lieth in darkness. Or why should the light apologize to the darkness, righteousness to unrighteousness, holiness...