BROOKLYN, N.Y., NOVEMBER 20TH, 1924

BROOKLYN, N.Y., NOVEMBER 20TH, 1924

Beloved Brother, — I am interested in all you write as to 1 Corinthians 11: 20; 1 Corinthians 14: 23, etc. It suggests to me afresh the importance of reading Scripture in its context. Keeping this in view there can be no question that J.N.D. and the A.V. are justified in rendering the Greek “in one place”. If we render it “together” here as in Matthew 22: 34, we should have a redundancy — “the whole assembly come together”. In Matthew 22 the preceding Greek word is rendered “were gathered”. In 1 Corinthians 14 the idea of place is evident in that one is supposed to come in. Acts 4 is no doubt quoted from the LXX, the purpose of the gathering is emphasised. A different Greek form is employed in verse 27 for gathering together. Even if we admit that the Greek referred to in 1 Corinthians 14 should be translated “together”, we cannot get rid of the idea of place, for the apostle is dealing with order in the assembly, not with its motives in assembling; one comes in or one is sitting there; the others judge, etc. “The whole assembly” has come together — it was not in the air, nor even in the ‘open’, for one could come in.

Affectionately yours in Christ,

James Taylor.