Questions From Readers

● Does not the expression “in Christ shall all be made alive” include Adam?—P. E., Maryland.

Evidently Adam stood in a different position as regards redemption from that occupied by his descendants. He had the right to life, but did not value it or appreciate it enough to hold on to it; whereas his descendants never had the right to life and needed redemption from the beginning. It should be observed that in the statement “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” Adam is excluded from the comparison. (1 Cor. 15:22) We could not say that Adam died in Adam. Adam was personally sentenced to death for his own willful wrongdoing, but not his offspring. Nor does the Bible anywhere say that Adam was the one ransomed to thereby automatically release all his descendants. The ransom is not given for one, but “for many” or “for all”. (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6) However, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, the apostle is discussing the resurrection of Christ’s body members. The statement that “in Christ shall all be made alive” applies to all those “which are fallen asleep in Christ” (1Co 15 verses 6, 18), and not to mankind in general. (See The Watchtower, April 1, 1944, ¶¶22-25.) Hence those to be thus made alive must come into relationship to Christ as Life-giver and are made members of his body. Not all men receive the benefits of Christ’s ransom, but only “all them that obey him”. The condemnation inherited from Adam is lifted from those who believe and obey Christ Jesus; it remains upon those who do not believe and obey.—John 3:18, 36; Heb. 5:9.

● How can we harmonize Matthew’s account that both thieves railed at Jesus with Luke’s that tells of one scoffing and the other defending Jesus?—M. Q., California.

A possible explanation would be that at the start both taunted Jesus, but that as time passed one of the thieves noted what was happening and observed how Jesus patiently endured injustice and cruelty. During these passing hours this thief might easily have changed his mind about Jesus, and, though scoffing at first, as Matthew notes, later championed Jesus, as Luke relates.

However, another explanation may be the answer. There may have been four others impaled with Jesus, two on each side. Matthew uses a Greek word translated “thieves”, whereas Luke uses a different Greek word, which is translated “malefactors”. From Matthew’s account it appears that Jesus had already been impaled, and lots had been cast for his garment, and a sign posted over his head, by the time the two thieves were brought up and impaled with him. Then these two newcomers joined with the priests and people in railing at Jesus. (Matt. 27:35-44) But from Luke’s account it appears that the two malefactors were “led with him to be put to death” and that when this trio arrived at Calvary “there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left”. One of these malefactors scoffed at Jesus, the other believed in Jesus and the kingdom. (Luke 23:32-43; see New World translation) Hence this explanation would say that two malefactors were impaled at the same time as Jesus, one of whom scoffed and one who believed Jesus, and that later two thieves were brought and impaled, both of whom taunted Jesus. This would mean there were two staked on each side of Jesus, or a total of five staked in a row.

● If the faithful men before Jesus’ time are not resurrected as perfect men, in what way is their resurrection “better”?—Texas reader.

The questioner refers to Hebrews 11:35: “Women received their dead by resurrection; but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection.” (NW) We let the new book “This Means Everlasting Life” answer by our quoting from it, page 295: “By the faith of God’s prophets of old a number of persons were resurrected from the dead, but because they were inheritors of death from Adam and the Kingdom was not yet established, they returned to death. All those faithful ones of old, down to John the Baptist, died in faithfulness to Jehovah God, and for this they will have a resurrection better than what those had who were resurrected to a life still under the regime of sin and death. It will be a ‘better resurrection’ because it will be performed by Jehovah’s greatest prophet, the King Jesus Christ, and it will be performed under God’s kingdom in his hands. It will be without the unavoidable need to die again, because it will be under the rulership of the Son of God, whose ransom secures their release forever from death. The opportunity to gain life on earth eternally will then be set before them; and with Satan and his demons abyssed and his wicked world gone there will be no forces to hinder their efforts to gain the latest knowledge on God’s kingdom and to walk the paths of enlightened righteousness toward everlasting life in this Paradise. And since they exercised faith as far as they had knowledge and they died in their unbreakable integrity toward God, they have inclined toward righteousness, and this will be to their advantage at the resurrection under His kingdom by Christ.”

Announcements

USE THE REMAINING TIME WISELY

Not forever will the Creator allow present distress and wickedness to continue on the earth. He has foreordained a definite time to bring the last vestiges of Satan’s world to a violent end; and the remaining time is very short. Don’t you desire to use that remaining time wisely? (Eph. 5:15, 16, RS) If so, we invite you to join with Jehovah’s witnesses in the activity they have arranged for November. During this month they will be offering the new book “This Means Everlasting Life”, on a contribution of 35c. Throughout its 320 pages this attractive and enlightening book alerts its readers to how everlasting life may be gained and the nearness of the time when it will be the cherished possession of righteous humankind. Life-seekers need to quickly and intelligently seek God and his kingdom. Can you think of a wiser use of your time than to aid another to learn of the way to life? Jehovah’s witnesses in your community will be glad to assist you to share in this activity. Or, if you prefer, write to us and we will furnish you with helpful instructions and report forms.

“THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE”

What can compare with everlasting life? Wealth? Fame? Or personal accomplishment? No, as desirable as may be the attainment of even our fondest imaginations, their brilliance fades as life-forces ebb. Without life, no other pleasure can be enjoyed; when life ceases, ownership, happiness and pleasures end. So, if you would prolong the cherished good things you now know, you must not seek them first; but rather, you must first seek everlasting life. A new 320-page book “This Means Everlasting Life” presents information of vital import to life-seekers. Clearly and logically it unfolds to its readers the sureness of the promise of life and Scriptural instruction on how to attain to it. A scripture index enhances its value. Your personal copy will be sent to you, postpaid, for a contribution of 35c.

CAN YOU LIVE FOREVER IN HAPPINESS ON EARTH?

Humanitarians have long hoped for and worked toward lengthening the span of life. But with all their work and even in their fondest dreams they do not envisage more than a few short years to be added, and those replete with present troubles. But what if those cares could be taken away and the span of life lengthened into eternity? Think of the possibilities! Hopes spiral upward as the mind dwells upon the prospects. And it will cheer you to know that this hope is not a mere figment of the imagination. Scriptural evidence which indisputably proves that soon lasting life on earth will be a reality is now available to you in a 32-page booklet Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth? It contains the text of a speech delivered by N. H. Knorr, president of the Watchtower Society, to a visible audience of 123,707 as the climax event of an 8-day International Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses in New York city, July 30 through August 6, 1950. You will be sent a copy of this booklet, postpaid, on a contribution of 5c.

CORRECTION

In the first copies of the first edition of “This Means Everlasting Life” an error appears on page 206, paragraph 2, line 8. The date A.D. 607 should be 607 B.C. This is not true of the Spanish edition.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES

Week of Nov. 5: The Way of Success, ¶1-15.

Week of Nov. 12: The Way of Success, ¶16-26; and “Droop Not Your Hands”, ¶1-8.

Week of Nov. 19: “Droop Not Your Hands,” ¶9-25.