Insight On the Scriptures Archives - Page 4 of 8

Beacon Lights of History

As historian John Lord described it: “Superstition culminated at Rome, for there were seen the priests and devotees of all the countries that it governed,—‘the dark-skinned daughters of Isis, with drum and timbrel and wanton mien; devotees of the Persian Mithras; emasculated Asiatics; priests of Cybele, with their wild dances and discordant cries; worshippers of the great goddess Diana; barbarian captives with the rites of Teuton priests; Syrians, Jews, Chaldaean astrologers, and Thessalian sorcerers.’”—Beacon Lights of History, 1912, Vol. III, pp. 366, 367.

Insight On the Scriptures-Volume II. 1988. p. 824

Beacon Lights of History Volume 3

The Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew

Knowing, as he did, from the inspired prophecies of his Father’s Word that there would be rebellious apostates from the true Christian faith and service, Jesus quite properly raised this searching question that affects each disciple of his. But, by the form of his question, was he speaking about a particular man, an individual disciple of his? Or was he speaking with reference to a class of disciples? The Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew, by H. A. W. Meyer, Th.D., (1884) makes a suggestion. On page 429, it says regarding the expression “who therefore” (AV): “Considering the necessity for preparedness thus indicated. The inference itself is presented in the form of an allegory, the doúlos [slave] representing the disciples whom the Lord has appointed to be the guides of His church, in which they are required to show themselves faithful (1 Cor. iv. 1 f.) and prudent, . . . ” This limiting the “slave” to the twelve apostles, however, might allow for the doctrine of an apostolic succession or an episcopal succession, a succession of bishops (overseers) by the religious process of ordination.

God’s Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached. 1973. p. 338

Regarding Matthew 11:12, German scholar Heinrich Meyer states: “In this way is described that eager, irresistible striving and struggling after the approaching Messianic kingdom . . . So eager and energetic (no longer calm and expectant) is the interest in regard to the kingdom. The [bi·a·stai′] are, accordingly, believers [not enemy attackers] struggling hard for its possession.”—Meyer’s Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew, 1884, p. 225

Insight On the Scriptures-Volume II. 1988. p. 168

Critical and Exegetical Hand-Book to the Gospel of Matthew 1880 Edition

Ancient Cities

Historian W. B. Wright reports: “Fighting was the business of the nation, and the priests were incessant fomenters of war. They were supported largely from the spoils of conquest, of which a fixed percentage was invariably assigned them before others shared, for this race of plunderers was excessively religious.”—Ancient Cities, 1886, p. 25.

Insight On the Scriptures-Volume I. 1988. p. 954

In his book Ancient Cities (1886, page 25), W. B. Wright says: “They worshiped strength, and would say their prayers only to colossal idols of stone, lions and bulls whose ponderous limbs, eagle wings, and human heads were symbols of strength, courage, and victory. Fighting was the business of the nation, and the priests were incessant fomenters of war. They were supported largely from the spoils of conquest, of which a fixed percentage was invariably assigned them before others shared, for this race of plunderers was excessively religious.”

All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial. 1990. p. 159

Ancient Cities