This she was able to do, and while her salary would not meet all expenses and pay for the trip, it did give us something. So she took up her pad and pencil as a secretary, and I took up her apron and saved my voice. With a contribution from the congregation to fill the gap, I am, by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, able to attend the Kingdom Ministry School.”

A congregation servant from Brooklyn, New York, says that on three separate occasions he approached his employer to ask for time off to attend the Kingdom Ministry School. All three times he was turned down, and the third time the response was an angry one. Three days later it was time to leave for school, so the brother approached his employer again, this time requesting his pay in full, since he was going to have to say Good-by. On this occasion, after a long conversation in which the purpose of the school was again explained, leave of absence was granted.

Some who have attended the school have lost their secular work when doing so, but even these do not feel as if the Lord had let them down. Not at all! He blessed them far beyond their expectations with good things at the Kingdom Ministry School. Nor will He fail to hear their prayer in the days to come, when they ask: “Give us our bread for the day according to the day’s requirement.” (Luke 11:3) As Jesus himself assured, those who earnestly seek first the kingdom of God will find that all the other things necessary to life are added to them.—Matt. 6:33.

The example of these overseers in putting the Kingdom interests first is a fine one. They are, as the apostle Peter said they should be: “examples to the flock.” (1 Pet. 5:3) Others associated with the New World society will emulate their good example. When confronted with circumstances in which secular work might make it impossible to attend a convention of Jehovah’s people or when secular work begins to crowd out congregation meetings, they will remember the counsel found at Hebrews 13:7: “Remember those who are governing you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith.”

Questions From Readers

● Which occupy a higher position in Jehovah’s organization, the seraphs or the cherubs?—R. J., United States.

It would appear that the seraphs occupy the higher position. Wherever the cherubs are mentioned in connection with Jehovah they are shown as being in a lower position, Jehovah either sitting upon or riding upon them. See 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 13:6; Psalms 80:1; 99:1. However, the seraphs, in the only place they are mentioned, at Isaiah 6:1-6, are shown as occupying stations above Jehovah’s throne.

● Please cite authority for the statement appearing in paragraph 17, page 350, of “Your Will Be Done on Earth”: “Great bodies of water . . . that mark our globe as different from the other planets of the solar system.”—K. S., United States.

If you take any book on astronomy and read what it has to say about the planets of our solar system you can readily determine whether page 350 of “Your Will Be Done on Earth” is correct in its statement that great bodies of water mark our globe as different from the other planets of the solar system. The simple reason is that they are not the same distance away from the sun that our earth is. Hence the temperatures of the various planets would vary according to their greater nearness to the sun or their greater distance from the sun.

For instance, Venus, on its side facing the sun, is hundreds of degrees above zero; whereas on the other side it is hundreds of degrees below. What effect this would have on H₂O can well be appreciated. So the earth, being located at the proper distance from the sun, is favored with just the right conditions for the life of man and the economy of nature upon which he depends.

● What does the S.P.Q.R. stand for that appears in the illustration at the beginning of chapter 6 in the book “Your Will Be Done on Earth”?—S. F., U.S.A.

The letters S.P.Q.R. stand for the Latin phrase “Senatus Populusque Romanus.” Translated, this is “The Senate and People of Rome.”

● Clergymen claim that Luke was a Gentile. The Watchtower, October 1, 1960, page 587, paragraph 14, states that all the Bible writers were Hebrews. What is the authority for this statement?—B. M., United States.

Those who hold that Luke was a Gentile have no clear Scriptural authority for their position. They read into Paul’s words at Colossians 4:11, 14 the thought that Luke was not a Jew. This is because in verse 11 Paul mentions some who were ‘of the circumcision’ and in Col 4 verse 14 he mentions Luke. From this the implication is drawn that Luke was not of the circumcision and therefore not a Jew. But it does not at all follow that Paul intended to thus distinguish Luke. As McClintock & Strong’s Cyclopedia states: “If this be not thought conclusive, nothing can be argued from the Greek idioms in his style, for he might be a Hellenistic Jew, nor from the Gentile tendency of his Gospel, for this it would share with the inspired writings of Paul, a Pharisee brought up at the feet of Gamaliel.”

If there is no direct evidence as to Luke’s being a Gentile, what is the basis for stating that he was a Hebrew or Jew? The basis is Paul’s statement at Romans 3:1, 2 where he shows that God entrusted his inspired utterances to the Hebrews or Jews, giving them a distinct advantage: “What, then, is the superiority of the Jew, or what is the benefit of the circumcision? A great deal in every way. First of all, because they were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements of God.” Had Luke been a Greek he would have been the sole exception to this rule, and this would not be reasonable. So the logical conclusion is that he, the same as all the other penmen of the Bible, was a Jew, a Hebrew.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

“How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” exclaimed the psalmist. (Ps. 133:1) This godly unity will be promoted by Jehovah’s witnesses during July as they offer to all people the Bible-study aid “Your Will Be Done on Earth” and a booklet, on a contribution of 50c.

WHEN ALL NATIONS UNITE UNDER GOD’S KINGDOM

Would you like to see that time? Learn how you can! Hear the featured talk at all United Worshipers District Assemblies this summer. Five scheduled conventions are yet to be held so consult this list and start now!

AUGUST 8-13: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Fairgrounds Grandstand, 10th St. at May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Okla. Rooming: 5801 N. Shartel, Oklahoma City 18, Okla.

AUGUST 15-20. Omaha, Nebraska, Omaha Civic Auditorium, 18th & Capitol, Omaha, Nebr. Rooming: 2901 N. 30th St., Omaha 11, Nebr.

AUGUST 22-27: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Milwaukee Arena-Auditorium, 5th & Kilbourn Sts., Milwaukee 3, Wis. Rooming: 1238 W. Atkinson Ave., Milwaukee 6, Wis. Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Humber Gardens, Corner Brook. Rooming: 34 Country Road, Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 3: San Francisco, California, Candlestick Park Stadium, San Francisco, Calif. Rooming: 1619 Laguna St., San Francisco 15, Calif.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

August 20: The Source of All Dynamic Energy and Vigorous Power. Page 424.

August 27: Become Activated by the Spirit of Jehovah. Page 430.