rthe : ; of verses 29 and Paul’s argument is, if you do these things believing that there is something beyond the grave, in this fashion, that is worth the while of carrying on that testimony, then why do you argue, be ing influenced by Greek philosophy as though there were no immortality of the body of the believer? Q. What is the latest word on the date of publication of the Scofield Bible? A. We have just finished all of the gal leys through Malachi and the portion between Malachi and Matthew. The publication date has been set for the fall of 1963 and it is due to be available at that time as far as I know. A Na tional magazine gave the date of 1965 but that is absolutely incorrect. Q. In Acts 1:9-11 we are given one of the grandest pictures of all Scripture — the Ascension of our Lord. “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Gcdilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” A. This letter from our listener involves several questions. Did unbelievers see Him ascend? Will they see Him when He returns or will only believers see Him? The listener reasons that if un- (continued on next page) 26
Q San Mateo, California. In coming to our Questions let us turn to I Corin thians 15:29, 30. The listener would, like to know the meaning of this par ticular portion of Scripture. A. We read, “Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead, if the dead are not raised at all then why are they baptized for them. Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?” I suppose the phrase, being baptized for the dead, is the matter of their concern. This happens to be one pas sage that has more interpretations on it than probably any other verse in the Bible, with the possible exception of one in Galatians. Someone has com puted over forty interpretations, about three dozen of which are dead wrong and the others may be nearly right. It is possible that in Corinth they had a custom where they baptized for the dead, not that the dead might be saved for there is no indication that the living are saved by baptism. But baptizing for the dead was a custom and the Apostle Paul drew from them some kind of logical, consistent manner of life. Of course, many of us believe that “baptize for the dead” means that as the ranks of the Christian faith are, little by little, depleted by death, there are new breeds coming in who, upon being baptized upon their faith, come into the ranks just as in an army, and actually take the places of those who have gone on to be with the Lord. That is the thought that some of us
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