Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 21, 1906

Question Corner

By Editor

1776.—The Passion Play.

Please state when and by whom the Passion Play originated, and if it is still being played, and also if the “clown” or “fool” in the play is the character of Satan. W. F.

The Passion Play is a performance which takes place every tenth year in the village of Oberammergau, in the Bavarian highlands. In the seventeenth century a plague desolated that region. When it ceased, the village, as an act of gratitude, in the year 1633, vowed to represent the passion of Christ every ten years, and have ever since observed their vow. I do not think that any other character comes into the play as originally instituted, but just what appear in the Biblical history, Christ and His disciples, the high priests and scribes and Pharisees, Pilate, the Roman soldiers, etc. Since that time it has been played in theaters in different places, sometimes in universities; and some things may have been added to it, as doubtless there have; but at its birthplace the Gospel narrative is closely followed. Between the acts there are tableaux from the Old Testament, choral odes, etc. Its effect upon the people is thought by Catholics to be beneficial, and by many others to be of no benefit whatsoever.

1777.—Questions on the Covenant.

1. What is a covenant? 2. If a covenant has been fulfilled, does it still exist? H. W. S.

1. A covenant in human understanding and practise is a mutual agreement between two or more persons. In God's Word it sometimes means His law, "And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deut. 4:13. It has the sense of a will or testament in this respect, God's expressed will as to man's duty. This also includes God's promise on obedience to His law. In the old covenant, God entered into mutual relations with His people. Exodus 19. This is after the human idea of a covenant, but that covenant to which both God and His people were parties had for its basis, as all other covenants of God's Word, the Ten Commandments.

2. The answer to this question depends on the nature of the covenant. If it is an agreement to do a certain thing at a certain time, when that certain thing at the certain time is done, it fulfils the covenant, and it becomes null for anything future. If it refers to duty to be performed continuously, one may be constantly fulfilling the covenant and yet the covenant still remain operative; for instance, Israel covenanted to obey God's voice. Every day they obeyed, of course they fulfilled their part of the covenant, and God fulfilled His covenant-promises; and that would have continued as long as Israel was obedient, but such fulfilment could never, in the very nature of the case, destroy the covenant.

1778.—The Comforter.

Was not the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, in the earth before Jesus ascended to His Father? Then why does John say in the seventh chapter of his Gospel, the thirty-ninth verse, that the Spirit was not yet given?

Yes, the very passages you cite in your question (Mark 12:36; Ps. 57:11; 2 Peter 1:21), and others such as 2 Sam. 23:2; Heb. 3:6—all these clearly show that the Spirit of God was in the earth before Jesus ascended.

John 7:39 simply states the fact that the Spirit had not been received. The same thing in John 16:7, "If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you." He tells us that it is expedient for them that He go away that the Comforter may come. The simple fact is that His people could not separate the power of God from Christ's personal presence. They felt that He must be actually with them in order to do any miracles. Said His closest friend: "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died;" and yet there was the Roman centurion who grasped the fact of the ever-present Spirit and power of God, "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." The difficulty was not in the giving of the Spirit, but in the receiving of it. One other thought, the Lord wanted to teach His children that the Spirit must come to them through Christ Jesus the Lord.

1779.—What Law? Gal. 3:19.

Will you please explain the meaning of the text in Gal. 3:19? E. A. D.

Read carefully the context. The apostle has just stated that God's covenant was confirmed in Abraham 430 years before the law was spoken. He also teaches us in this chapter that it is not by the law we are saved, but by God's promise in Christ Jesus. The blessings of Abraham come by faith. Paul anticipates the question that would naturally be raised. You ask, "Wherefore then the law?" And he replies, "It was added—given, spoken—because of transgression." Rom. 5:20 states it, "The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound." Man's conscience became so benumbed that he must have the written law held out before him to show him that he was a sinner, and how he was sinning. God wanted Israel of old to see how exceeding sinful is sin that they might flee from their transgressions and be saved by His grace. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. "I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not known lust except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. And that has been the purpose of God's law to the sinner always. For how long does the law fulfil this object? Until the Seed shall come to whom the promise was made. And who is the Seed? Christ, the one promised in Gen. 3:15. What is the promise? The Seed shall be "heir of the world." Rom. 4:11, and other Scriptures. When will Christ receive His inheritance, the inheritance promised to Abraham?—When He comes again the second time. Dan. 7:27; Matt. 25:31, 34. The meaning of the text, then, is that God gave the law in order that man might see how great were his transgressions, and so be led to Christ, and that this office of the law shall continue until the Seed, Christ Jesus, shall come and take His throne.