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The Potter Has The Power    The New Birth    The Universe Has A Design -The Beginning    Whose Feet have you washed today?    By the Offense of One    Good Communications (4)    Tour Through The Bible   

I have been asked to put down some of my thoughts concerning some of the scriptures that speak of "The Potter and the Clay." I will attempt to do so, praying that the Lord will guide and give the increase. To begin with I will make this emphatic statement, "The Potter Has the Power; all power in heaven and earth.

For a text and starting place, we will use Jeremiah 18:1-8, "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them."

Jeremiah was a prophet for the Jews, he labored among them for forty years. His life as a prophet was filled with disappointment, sorrow, tears, and physical suffering. He charged the Jews with many sins that they were guilty of exhorting them to repentance, threatening them with the destruction of their city and temple, and the carrying away of the Jews into captivity in Babylon, which he in sorrow lived to see.

However, he always, at the same time, spoke comfortably to the saints, not only with a promise of deliverance from their Babylon captivity after seventy years but of a spiritual redemption by the Messiah in most every sermon. He also predicted several judgments upon other nations by the hand of The Potter Who Has All Power.

Jeremiah wrote these words of our text in about 630 B.C. Jeremiah's name signifies, The Lord shall be exalted, and such is the object of the lesson before us, "The Potter Has The Power." It was during the dark days of the decline of the Jews, that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, "Go down to the potter's house." The Lord showed him there that He was the great and sovereign God, who had the power over men, nations, and all other things; to use them in any manner that He might choose to do, being the God of heaven and earth. His sovereign power is shown here by the similitude of a potter working in his shop, and making and marring vessels at his pleasure which shows God's ways in dealing with nations and kingdom, and that He can do what He will with them as easy as a potter can with the clay.

Notice in the second verse that God said, "I will cause thee to hear my words," or to understand; this principal is still true today; we cannot hear or understand unless the Lord gives us 'ears to hear.' In this verse God told Jeremiah to "go down to the potter's house," and in the third verse it says, "Then I went down to the potter's house." Jeremiah did as a good and obedient servant should, he immediately obeyed his Lord, without any questions, excuses or arguments. He went, walking by faith and not sight, as all of God's servants should do, trusting in God who is, 'The Potter' with all power in heaven and earth.

"And behold, he wrought a work on the wheels." The work was done by the potter who turned the wheels and molded the clay. The work wasn't done by the wheels or the clay, they had no ability within themselves to make the wheels turn or to mold the clay into a vessel. It took the power and knowledge of the potter to set the wheels to motion and to make the clay into the vessel that he chose to.

It was so in the beginning with God. He set the wheels in motion by His power. He made [created by speaking] the universe [not multi-verse] into being, and then from the clay [pile of dust] of the earth He made the vessel of His choice; which was Adam, and that vessel was good, very good. You see, The Potter Has The Power.

"And the vessel that he made of clay was marred." Adam was the vessel that The Potter [God] made, and when Adam transgressed God's law then the vessel that the Potter had made with His hands was marred. Everything that would come out of that marred vessel, that is, all of Adam's posterity would also be marred. The vessel had no power to take away the ugly blemish or corrupt imperfection, only the Potter had the power to deal with the clay and remold the lump of clay into a vessel of honor, or for that matter, if He had chose, to leave the vessel as it was in its marred condition, Only The Potter Has The Power.

We can safely say that the Potter had in mind what the vessel would look like before He made it; "God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; So God created man in His own image; God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And God saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very good."

However, the vessel became marred, Adam sinned, he transgressed the law of God, "he did eat." So, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust shalt thou return." "The vessel became marred!"

The Potter [God] who set the wheels in motion by creation and holds the universe in His hands, found the vessel, that He had made of clay to be marred by sin. Yet, He continues to hold the universe up by His power alone, by His hands, until the eternal purpose of the Potter shall ultimately come to pass; that is to say, the fruition of the Potter's will before the foundation of the world, even before He had made the vessel of clay.

The Apostle Paul explains the Potter's eternal plans for His chosen vessels in Ephesians 1:5-12, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace:

Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He had purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ."

The Potter Has The Power, to carry out His intended purpose, and did so. He formed a new vessel in Jesus Christ from the same lump, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." [2 Corinthians 5:17].

"So he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." The Potter, from the same lump of clay made a vessel to his liking. The clay had no power or ability to form or reform itself, it was the Potter that moved in a sovereign manner to fashion the clay into a vessel of honor. I am persuaded that the Apostle Paul was referring to these same verses of our text when he was teaching that 'The Potter Has The Power' in Romans 9:20-23, "O man, who art thou that repliest against God?

Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another into dishonor? What if God willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

TO BE CONCLUDED

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VOICE OF THE PAST...

Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Jno 3:8.

A brother who lives in the state of California, whose identity I did not learn, requested me to write an article for the Banner of Love on the New Birth. After some delay I will now try to comply with his request.

The scriptural quotation at the head of this article shows very clearly that no one can hope to abide in God's kingdom until he has been born again. And we want to discuss the necessity of this new birth.

Even before the fall, man was not fitted to live in the kingdom of God, because he was only natural, and God's kingdom is spiritual. Had man not sinned it never would have been necessary for the "shedding of blood," but he would have had to be translated from natural to spiritual. But when sin entered into the world, something happened to man that corrupted his nature, and until a cleansing takes place, man is an enemy to God.

In order for that cleansing to be accomplished there must not only be the shedding of blood, but its application as well. No doubt, Jesus had all this in view in the above statement. Some of our brethren object to the term "again" in Jno. 3:3, because, say they the marginal reading is "from above" instead. And they say that is more comprehensive, but Matthew Henry and other able authors say the word from which "again" is translated signifies both "again" and "from above"

So Jesus not only said that man must be born again, but that this new birth must be from above.

Without this new birth, all men are corrupt, helpless and defiled. It is true, they can act in the natural sphere. they have all the facilities of the natural man, which are wonderful indeed. Man in nature has a mind, conscience, and soul. These are the most wonderful things that are known in the natural realm. But not, even with these can man reach up and act or even see into the kingdom of God. The worst part of it is all these wonderful gifts from God to man were corrupted in the fall of man, and now they are exercised in a God dishonoring way.

Nicodemus did not grasp the truth that this new birth must be from above, for he said, "How can these things be?" And, "can a man enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "That which is born of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." This means that if man could be born again naturally, he would be no better off, for that is a fleshly birth. The child partakes of the life of his parents and never of a higher life than the parents have.

The term "again" and "from above" show that the new birth gives the man not only a new existence, but also a higher existence. This birth is of the spirit and so in it man partakes of the spirit and becomes spiritual. His faculties are now spiritual. He now has spiritual emotions, spiritual desires, and spiritual conception. He is now a subject of the kingdom of God. Those wonderful traits that man only possesses, are spiritual and holy. After this new birth man has emotions that are worthy and God-honoring.

Some take the position that the tern, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" means that man is born of the water when he is baptized in water. But if this be true water is a parent of the Child of God just the same as the spirit for he is born of the water, as he is born of the spirit. To which we would ask, "Is the water the father or the mother [or both] of the child of God? If you say, "neither" then you admit that the term water in Jno. 3:5 does not mean baptism.

What it really means, I am sure, is the cleansing that is done for man by the Spirit in the new birth. This is the sanctifying of the Spirit; the washing of regeneration and renewing of the spirit.

In this new birth man is adopted into the family of God. Some have said adoption is solely a legal term. This is true only when "Legal" adoption is under consideration. But when God adopts his people He does so by the new birth. God would never take an unholy person into His holy kingdom. To adopt man without "adapting" would be dying just like that. So, when God washes man from his sins, sanctifies cleanses, and spiritualizes him, he also takes him out of the natural existence into a spiritual one; out of the family of Adam into the family of God.

This work is done for man in soul only in this life. Man bears the image of God in soul only. But the children of God are waiting for the adoption towit: the redemption of their bodies. This shows that the work of adoption which is begun here in time to be completed in the resurrection, when the bodies of the saints will be fashioned like that of Jesus. The new birth is begun in regeneration and will be completed in the resurrection. We will be raised up again.

Now in all this, please bear in mind that it is the same person who has an existence in the natural kingdom that is translated over into the spiritual. He is changed from natural to spiritual. Even in the resurrection it is the same body that is buried that comes forth.

H. G. Richards

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The Existence of God -Teleological Argument

The Universe Has a Design

The Beginning, Part 2

 By Brother Ron Johnson

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  (Gen. 1:1-3)

With these simple, declarative statements we are told how everything we observe in our universe began.  It is the immensely important start for the revelation of God’s design. The fingerprint of God is on the universe.  (“When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers…” Psalms 8:3).

More than fifteen years before the beginning of the twentieth century, Elder Sylvester Hassell gave a profound view of this introduction to God’s book in his History of the Church of God⁷:

Thus God puts His seal upon the forehead of the Bible.  Thus, in the volume of Inspiration, with the first breath of His mouth, He destroys forever the deadly errors of polytheism, pantheism, atheism, deism, materialism, agnosticism, accidentalism, evolutionism, positivism, naturalism, rationalism, dualism, two-seedism, fatalism, pessimism, idolatry, and superstition.  This one statement of the scriptures is of infinitely more value than all the words of all the uninspired men that ever lived.  It transports us at once above all human science and tradition and philosophy, above the dark, interminable, labyrinthine, wanderings of the natural mind, beyond the bounds of time to the clear divine depths of ancient eternity.  It declares to us, in a language of the sublimest simplicity and truthfulness, that “In the beginning”, at a period of the distant past unknown to mortals, “God”, Elohim, the Almighty Trinity, Father, Word, and Spirit, the alone Eternal, Self-Existent Being, by an act of His sovereign will, and for the manifestation of His own glory, the highest conceivable motive “created the heaven and the earth”, produced from non-existence the entire universe of matter and of mind. 

This beginning of time and the concept of light are intertwined in the scriptures and in science. As a result of the proof of quantum mechanical physics, there are few that would say the universe is infinite in space or time.  In fact, in the 1880s, even before modern physics was introduced by Max Planck at the turn of the century with his concept of “light quanta”, Josef Stefan and Ludwig Boltzman demonstrated heat transfer by radiation using the laws of thermodynamics.⁸  From these principles it can be derived that a night sky that is dark instead of light “proves the universe cannot contain an infinite number of evenly distributed stars for an infinite time”.⁹  That is, an infinite number of stars for an infinite time would result in an infinite amount of light impinging on the earth, so the sky would never appear dark.  And, since the universe and time are not infinite, the universe had a beginning!

Light, itself, is still a great mystery in science.  Is it a particle or a wave?  Science can only say it has the characteristics of both!  The light on the earth on this first day existed before the sun, moon, and stars were created on the fourth day, and we are still trying to understand it. We know that God finished His work and rested from His creative processes on the seventh day.   Since that time, the energy in the universe is a constant (First Law of Thermodynamics).  We now live in a time marred by sin, resulting in a universe that is winding down (the ever-increasing disorder defined by the Second Law of Thermo-dynamics).  Since we exist in this after shock world beyond His creative work and in the aftermath of man’s separation from God, we have no scientific method to comprehend these creation events with precision.  But it is a glorious thought to consider this earth  - “without form and void” - having a “face”, implying a front and a back (or rotation) - and coming out of “darkness” into “light”.  This original design principle is evident in all our observations today, both physical and spiritual.  It is astounding for us to consider its implications in the natural world, whether it is related to the Newtonian world of: 

F (force)= m (mass) x a (acceleration), where time is simultaneous for all observers, or the quantum world of: E (energy)=m (mass) x c (the speed of light)², where time is relative.  Indeed, the equation E = mc², developed and originally used over a thirty year period (1900-1930) that literally shook physics to it’s foundations, combines the fundamentals of our physical universe in a stunningly simple formula.  And it combines these entities in a way that continues to have far reaching implications to the understanding of God’s creation and His design for our existence.  Energy is the engine that makes it all go.  Mass is the substance we observe around us.  And these physical entities, so entirely different, are related by a single constant– the speed of light!  Truly extraordinary!  This relationship, upon the briefest reflection, should cause even the most ardent non-scientist, non-mathematician to sit back with a sense of wonder and awe.

Light, of course, also establishes our ability to measure time and is the fourth dimension of the space–time continuum.  Furthermore, this single mathematical term, c, is a constant in our physical world in a very “special” way, as determined by Albert Einstein.  He developed the special theory of relativity in 1905 by observing that 1) there is no observable absolute motion in the universe, only relative motion, and 2) the velocity of light is constant and is independent of the motion of the source.  This concept, and its extension to general relativity that includes gravitational effects, was in direct conflict to Newtonian physics, but has since been proven experimentally many times.

Other scientists (Hawking, Ellis, and Penrose) have extended these concepts to show that “space and time must have an origin, concurrent with that for matter and energy”.  In other words, “time itself is finite”.  Given this “common origin of matter, energy, space, and time, the act(s) or cause(s) of creation [the beginning] must take place in dimensions or realms independent of the space-time dimensions and substance of the universe”.¹⁰  In other words, some would conclude:

 God exists!

And He is transcendent of this universe.  His design is being revealed more every day as scientific observations from the subatomic to the astronomical show the evidences of His work and His power.

 In reality, these relationships of space and time are not new at all.  They simply confirm a great biblical truth.  In Genesis, God’s grand opening act was the creation of light.  He did not say, “Let there be space” or “Let there be time.”  He said, “Let there be light.”¹¹

As believers in God’s word, we may not need science to believe these truths, but the fact is, true science always agrees with God’s book, and it is beautiful to behold.  The Bible is a spiritual book, and God has given us the reasoning power to follow the clues of the scientific principles it presents.  It simply takes a while for man’s understanding of science to catch up.  This fact is hard for some to accept.

Hugh Ross expresses his personal view as a scientist from his book The Creator and the Cosmos:¹²

Attacks by physicists and other scientists on the God of the Bible are not new.  The Bible seems an affront to their intellectual prowess.  This ancient “religious” document makes many pointed and challenging statements about cosmic origins, all of them provable.

What an affront to pride…The call to humility and submission in view of the awesomeness of what God created and wrote is more than some are willing to handle.

We are indeed thankful that God did write it.  A lifetime of study is not enough to comprehend it all…not even many lifetimes.  But what we can understand is magnificent! 

He is “the light of the world”.  (John 8:12)

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”  (Romans 11:33).

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Whose feet have you washed lately?

Many of us are familiar with the teachings of Jesus in the 13^th Chapter of John regarding the washing of the disciples feet. We understand the literal example given by Christ. But do we understand its spiritual lesson? More importantly, do we follow it and practice it?

Whose feet did you wash yesterday?

Following what is known as "the Last Supper" which involved the observation of the feast of the Passover, the 13^th Chapter of John outlines and unusual action by Christ. After supper, Christ girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, and began washing his disciples feet.

The disciples were caught off guard by this action, questioning what Jesus was doing. "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." John 13:7.

Peter at first resisted, but was convinced by Jesus to allow his feet washed.

After Jesus finished he asked: "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet."

"For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

Jesus’s lesson is one of humility and service. Washing of feet was traditionally a menial task, performed by the servants. The disciples were shocked that Jesus performed this on them.

We know from the gospel of Luke (22:24-27) that the disciples had debated who was the greatest among them. Jesus’s lesson in humility was needed by the disciples, and it is needed still by us today.

Based on Jesus’ instruction, the washing of feet became an ordinance of the church. It is not widely practiced among all religions, unlike the communion service (which at the Last Supper preceded Jesus’ washing of feet); but is in fact ridiculed by many people, including some in other religious denominations.

We know the literal washing of feet service to be a solemn, humbling and beautiful religious experience. But our discussion here involves its spiritual meaning.

Jesus wanted us to know that we are not too good to be above performing even the most menial and degrading of tasks in the service of our fellow brethren. How do we measure up on such a guidepost? Do we lower ourselves to performing the most menial and degrading service to others?

If we know, understand and practice these things, then Jesus tells us "happy are ye if ye do them." John 13:17.

Helping the sick and needy is not always a pleasant physical experience. Their needs are not always at the top of society’s social graces. Yet, our "lowering" of ourselves to help with the most menial tasks in service of our fellow man is one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences we can have and "happy" are we when we do it.

Have you been treated harshly by an enemy? Is there someone you dislike who you wouldn’t be caught dead helping.?

As Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matt. 5:44

Can you wash the feet of someone you despise? Can you humble yourself and lower your ego and pride enough to forgive those who use and abuse you — can you wash their feet?

The Apostle Paul tells us to bless those that persecute us and curse them not. We are to "mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." Romans 12:16.

Vengeance is not our job. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink. Also, try washing his feet.

By washing your enemy’s feet (in an attitude of love, humility and service), you are pouring coals of fire on his head. Romans 12:20.

This is the hard part for us. Humbling ourselves to the point of performing menial tasks to benefit and serve others, especially our enemies, is not in our human nature. I want revenge — not lowering myself down to the level I think others are at and performing some task which should only be performed by the lowest levels of society.

Washing the feet of others is not easy. It is humbling. Jesus meant it to be that way. And happy are we when we finally lower ourselves to following Jesus’ example.

Whose feet have you washed today?

We should post that message on our bedposts, on our bathroom mirrors, on our desks and in our cars.

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We very much enjoy reading the Banner every month. I do so look forward to getting it. I really enjoy the articles that I read.

So, make sure and keep the good work up. May God bless and keep the Lord in our daily prayers. Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Brenda Kennedy, Church Clerk

Willow Springs Primitive

Baptist Church

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We appreciate your commitment and the labor that goes into publishing the Banner for all old Baptists to enjoy and to remain informed about the members of Christ's Church. Should you be in Dallas, please come. worship with us if your schedule permits.

Christian Love,

Bruce Coates

By The Offense of One

By Elder Mark Green

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We are still enjoying the articles and all the good information you place in this church paper. Keep up the good work.

Elder George Walker

Rhome, Texas

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Still enjoy the Banner so much. God bless you for the good work.

Jewell Faught

Lampasas, Texas

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MADE COPIES OF ELDER WATSONS ARTICLE

Please continue our subscription for another year. Enclosed is a check to cover the subscription and a little extra to use as it's needed.

We made copies of Elder Don Watson's article on True Science and sent them to our grandchildren. I thought they would find the true facts interesting.

In Christian Love,

Dick and Janet Albertson

Andrews, Indiana

Note: Thank you for the extra and for the encouragement.

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My husband, Troy and I were reflecting on this one day and I asked him, "Do you feel we have been a success in life? He said, "Well, it all depends on how you define success.

Early in life I married a beautiful girl. We had two wonderful children. We haven't had a lot of money, but enough that we don't want for the necessary things of life. We don't have a fine home, but a nice comfortable one. My children's actions have never given me a minute's worry, although I had a lot of worrying because I couldn't afford to send them to college.

The day our son graduated from high school I expressed these worries to him. He put his arm around my shoulders and said, "Dad, don't worry about that. You have brought me this far, now I must go the rest of the way on my own. With the help of God and your support, I'll make it from here."

Yes, I really think we have had a successful life. After all, God didn't promise us a rose garden....but, we have come awfully close."

Opal Harrison

Charlotte N. C.

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Good Communications

By Elder Hulan Bass

There is not better communications that the True Gospel of the The Lord Jesus Chris. Paul says it is the same Gospel that I had preached to the Gentiles that I am still preaching to you, is always the same, in unity and harmony, uniform and consistent. He did not preach one sort to the Gentiles and another to the Jews. These that Paul refers to as being "of reputation" he means they were pillars of the church and dependable in every Godly way. James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways," If  I had preached [communicated] two different gospels, then I would have run in vain.

Anytime one lives a "double life" they are unstable in all their ways. Living one way worldly, then another way at home around your parents and church members, is unstable, whether privately or publicly. A double standard is evil communications.

Gal. 6:6, Paul again says a most profound truth - "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."  Here we have a basic primary premise. Whoever is skilled in God's Word, let him communicate to whoever is a teacher of "all good things." Why? So the teacher can then also teach The Truth of God's Word, and that is a good communications.

Eph. 4:29, Paul further teaches, "Let no corrupt communications proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers." What precious truth this is. When you speak, let it always and only be "that which is good to the use of edifying." What is edifying? It means to build up, comfort, nourish, support, maintain, sustain, instruct, cultivate the Harvest.

Corrupt talking will always increase more negative and ungodliness. 2nd Tim. 2:16, "But shun profane and vain babbling; for they will increase into more ungodliness." If we cannot say something positive, then let us not speak whatsoever.

Phil. 4:14-15, "Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only."

 Paul is saying ... "lest they should think he slighted their kindness, and lest they should be discouraged from doing any such thing of this kind another time, either to himself or others, for though he was so well contented with his state, and knew how to be abased and to suffer need, and could do all things through the strength of Christ; it is what is agreeable to the Will of God, and is an order of a sweet smell and acceptable to Him.

Paul is not saying just "any affliction of mind," for he was in as comfortable a frame; had as clear views of his interest in God, as his covenant-God, and was as contented and satisfied as ever he was in his life; nor any disorder or distemper of body; as he was in prison and penury, as he wrote these words. These Philippians communicated with him in it, both by sympathizing with him in his tribulation, and by sending their ministers to visit him, and with him a present for his relief and support; in doing which they did well.

As well as the Apostle did, that they not only communicated now, but also had done formerly, and when none else beside them did; wherefore he not only commends them for the present kindness to him, but for their past favors. And the preaching of the Gospel of it be the Apostle in the parts of Macedonia, particularly at Philippi; as soon as ever the gospel was preached to them, they showed a grateful and beneficent spirit.

He then went to Corinth from Macedonia and other places, to preach the Gospel in other parts and to other people, they sent the brethren after him with presents which supplied what was lacking to him, and in which other churches were deficient. {Also see 2nd Cor. 11:8-9} as to giving and receiving, keeping account of such, so that all accounts are kept clear.

Paul's meaning is, that whereas he and his fellow-ministers had delivered out spiritual things to this church, they had in return communicated {given} their carnal [natural] things; so that there was a proper account kept, which was not observed by other churches, and which was greatly to the commendation of this. [quoted from John Gills Commentary.]

Series 5 next and this is the conclusion.

Compiled by Hulan F. Bass [elder] Lockhart, Texas 

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