BROOKLYN, N.Y., SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1933
[p. 410] BROOKLYN, N.Y., SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1933
Mr. A. Geo. Lewis.
Beloved Brother, — Pardon my apparent delay in acknowledging your letter. It arrived here while I was in Europe and so it reached me late. Besides, you omitted to include ‘Brooklyn’ in the address and this also caused delay.
(1) I cannot say anything definite as to the variation in 1 Corinthians 11: 24 from Luke 22: 19. You will be aware that some MSS insert ‘broken’ in the former, but this is not generally accepted. “For you” would indicate a continuous portion. “Is given” is not very different, but the idea of gift is, of course, added.
(2) Reconciliation is said to be of “things in the heavens”. I believe this will be fully — in principle it is true now — seen in the millennium. Of course, heaven is a ‘thing’, but what is in view in Colossians 1 is things in a moral rather than in a material sense. The present physical heavens and earth will remain during the millennium. Peter looks beyond to the final or eternal conditions. These involve new creation. Reconciliation is a moral change in persons and things; these, as identified in responsibility, remaining. New creation goes beyond this and is final — old things having passed away.
(3) ‘Giving from the box’ is, of course, assembly giving. 2 Corinthians 9 plainly shows this. The bounty of the assembly can obviously extend to ‘all saints’. Great care is needed, however, in undertaking in any general way to extend financial help to those not in fellowship by the saints, or we might be regarded as just one of the sects. The spiritual value of material giving should always be kept in view. In the passage you mention (John 13: 29) there is doubtless an intimation that the Lord was accustomed to minister to the needs of the poor (but compare John 12: 4 - 8), and no doubt any needy ones among the Jews would be included — they being still regarded as God’s people.
(4) The breaking of the bread is the act of the brother who gives thanks, but all are committed to it — “the bread which we break”. This was the Lord’s own part as He instituted His supper — He did not eat of the bread. “This do” refers to what the Lord did. The memorial of Himself is in what He did. Luke omits the reference to eating.
I trust these remarks in answer to your questions will be of service to you.
It is cheering to hear that ‘things are happier in Melbourne’. I sympathise with the dear brethren there in all they have been through. Later information indicates that discipline has been administered and I trust the Lord will make this effectual.
With love in Christ, I am,
Affectionately in Him,
James Taylor.