Vol 60 Issue 14

Thus far in considering the early church’s approach to Scripture, we have treated the church as a unity. This it was fundamentally, both in doctrine and in its approach to Scripture. The difference between the eastern Greek-speaking churches and the western Latin-speaking churches were matters of temperament and character, not doctrine. Both branches received the doctrines of the Trinity formulated at Nicea and the Christology of Chalcedon.

Congratulations to Candidate Barry Gritters who has accepted the call to be the first pastor of Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church. Candidate Gritters’ examination will be at Classis East on May 9. His ordination is set for Sunday, May 13. May God bless Candidate Gritters’ and Byron Center Church. 

Classis West of the Protestant Reformed Churches met in Loveland, Colorado for two, full days, on March 7, 8, 1984. Eleven ministers, twelve elders, and one deacon represented the churches of the West. Rev. W. Bekkering presided over the Classis. Elders B. Driesen (Hull) and P. Van Dyken (Lynden) and Deacon L. De Zwarte (Pella) were present as delegates for the first time and signed the Formula of Subscription. Rev. R. Van Overloop, missionary in Birmingham, Alabama, was present and was given advisory vote. 

DANIEL, SIGNS AND WONDERS (International Theological Commentary), by Robert A. Anderson; Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984; 158 pages, $5.95 (paper). (Reviewed by Prof. R.D. Decker). The author of this commentary: 1) does not believe Daniel to be the secondary author of this book of the Bible; 2) refers to the author as “the compiler” or “storyteller”; 3) dates the book very late (174-164 B.C.); 4) finds a historical inaccuracy in chapter 1:1, 2. For a good explanation of these verses one should consult the late Edward J.

THE INCEPTION OF THE NEW VERSION  Many times God uses the incidental, the unexpected, and even the seemingly evil things of life to perform mighty wonders for His church. Who would ever have expected that the words of a little Jewish maiden would lead to the conversion of Naaman the Leper? Who would ever have thought that the evil deeds committed by Joseph’s brothers would have resulted in the preservation of Israel in the time of famine? But so it was in the wondrous providence of God. 

Throughout the Scriptures we find that the people of God are repeatedly called the servants of the Lord. This is a great truth. Many examples of outstanding servants of the Lord in Scripture can be cited. Moses the man of God is often called the servant of the Lord. He was himself a beautiful picture of what it means to be the servant of the Lord. Godly king David often refers to himself by the designation servant of the Lord, especially in his prayers to the Lord. We find that the faithful prophets of God in the Old Testament are...

Article 6—and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.

G.R. Baptist Academy Update Some time ago we reported concerning difficulties encountered by the Grand Rapids Baptist Academy with the Civil Rights Department of Michigan. The Academy was, apparently, being challenged regarding hiring procedures. They were, it was claimed, violating the civil rights laws by asking questions concerning the religious beliefs of the applicants for teaching positions in the school. That challenge has now been dropped.

After Esther had been chosen to replace Vashti as the wife of king Ahasuerus—and thus also to become the queen of that vast empire of Persia with its 127 provinces—and even after the king had made a great feast in her honour, the king’s servants still brought a new group of virgins for his sinful gratification. That must be the meaning of the statement in Esther 2:19 that “when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.” 

From two Michigan readers I received letters about an expression which I used in my reply to a letter concerning organizing small churches (March 15 issue, p. 272). The expression occurs in the following sentence: “When I think back to the time of our synodical meetings in 1954 when our synodical fund amounted to a big fat ZERO because our enemies had run off with our synodical funds, and when I consider how the Lord had prospered us and provided for us abundantly, then I can’t think in terms of burdens, only of blessings.”