The Supposed Dispensational Frontier

The Differentiator
Vol. 15 New Series October, 1953 No. 5

Respectable writers have a conventional rule that when they quote others in criticism they must give full references. The reason is that this is the only way to ensure some standard of fairness and decency in their dealings with one another. It is manifestly unfair to quote anyone's words without giving the reader an opportunity to examine the context of the quotation or even to check its accuracy. It is therefore a sound practise in general to ignore any critic who avoids coming out into the open. This circumstance, by itself, suffices to prove that he is afraid of having the whole of the facts brought to light.

Unfortunately, this good rule cannot always be kept, however keenly one may wish to do so; for the interests of truth must come first.

A case in point is a recent issue of "The Berean Expositor" (May, 1953) which, I understand, has been published also as a pamphlet entitled "The Dispensational Frontier"; obtainable from Leonard A. Canning, 40, Tumblewood Road, Banstead, Surrey, England. Its sponsors evidently hope it will be accepted as a convincing reply to my published teaching regarding Acts in general and its closing words in particular. Its author mentions that I have already given him a free advertisement, and here is another; but he takes good care to see to it that no such advertisement will be given to me. Although 5½ lines, altogether, are devoted to a quotation from my writings, no reference whatever is given. The reason is obvious. It would never do for its readers to be able to study both sides of the matter. My readers will note, in turn, that I am not in the least afraid to enable them to study my critic's case. Truth does not shun full light.

Most of the pamphlet is occupied with notions which have already been refuted; but considerable space is given to what is, to me, a new theory regarding the Apostle Paul's vision on the road to Damascus. I must therefore, reluctantly give it attention. It is not set out at all clearly. Perhaps this obscurity is expedient, as it gives its author a loophole for escape, if this should eventually prove desirable; but, so far as I can make out, the idea is that the words of the Lord Jesus, quoted in Acts 26:15-17, form a SECOND commission to Paul, then and there revealed to him.I quote:—

"The essential feature is, that while the Apostle knew that he was toreceive a second commission and a second visit from the Lord, no hintwas given him or recorded in the Scriptures until the rejection ofIsrael was imminent, and the Mystery ripe for revelation. . . At Acts26 he at last knew what the new commission was and declared beforeAgrippa that the long promised appearance of the Lord had now takenplace."Unfortunately for this queer idea, the appearance of the Lord Jesus to which Paul was referring in Acts 26:15-17 was stated by him (vv. 12-14) to have occurred while he was going to Damascus. It is unquestionably the same as that recorded in Acts 9:3-6. Nor need we depend on the immediate context in Acts 26. The issue here is as simple as it is important—merely this: Did Paul's commission to the Gentiles date from Acts 9 or from Acts 26? The answer is perfectly plain. In Acts 10 Peter unlocked the Kingdom to the Gentiles. This cleared the way for Paul, who, in accordance with the principle enunciated in Romans, went to the Jew first and then turned to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46, 47). There is no way of getting round this fact. In closing, I appeal once again to those responsible for The Berean Expositor to treat this vitally important matter in a manner becoming of Christians. They are amused at my supposed "poverty of argument," but the poverty is in their own presentation of it—a mere 5½ lines of print—not in mine. By employing such methods they betray to us all their own complete lack of confidence in their own cause.

R. B. WITHERS

Listing of Articles


A Critic of "Fundamentalism"
A Further Examination of Prophecy
A Note on "Far Above All"
A Reckless Assertion
A Re-examination of I Thessalonians 1:10
According To
Acts and I Thessalonians
Acts as History
Acts Misunderstood
Acts 3:19-21
Afterwards
"All" and "The All"
An Explanation
Are You Saved?
Baptism: Supplementary Comments
Book Review: "Sorting Prophetic Material"
Christian Love
Confusion about Paul's Ministry
Confusion about the "Church"
Conversion
Covenant and the Lordly Supper
Dating the Gospels
Dispensational Truth
Dr. Bullinger and Mr. Welch
Editorial on the Book of James
Editorial: The Tradition
"Ephesians Truth"
Ephesians 1:1-12
Ephesians 2:11-18
Faith and Truth
First Things First
Flesh and Blood
For Us and About Us
Forgiveness of Sins
Forgiveness without Repentance
Further Consideration of Repentance
Further Problems about Prophecy
Further Remarks about Prophecy
God's Dispensations are Permament
Guidance in Scripture
Humility
In Part
Israel's History in Scripture
James and Righteousness
James, the Lord's Brother
Jew and Greek
Journeys to Jerusalem
Luke 23:43
Made Righteous
Mark 7:19
A Note on Matthew 28:19
More about the Olive Allegory
Of All
One Body
On the Meaning of "Ta Panta"
Our Celestial Destiny
Our Special Dilemma
Peace and Security?
Predestination or Freedom?
Prophecy in Acts
Romans 11:25
II Timothy 4:2
Some more Errors about Prophecy
Spheres of Blessing
Spiritual Experience
Studies in God's Evangel Part 1
Studies in God's Evangel Part 2
Studies in God's Evangel Part 3
Success or Victory
The Apostles
The Apostle Paul's Commission
The Apostle Paul's Evangel to the Jews
The Apostle Paul and Acts
The Ascension and the "Modern Mind"
The Assault on James
The Basis of Fellowship
The Beginning may be Nigh
The Body of the Christ and Christ's Body
The Character of the Kingdom
The Christian Dilemma
The Church of God
The Crisis of Matthew 13
The Dating of Paul's Epistles
"The Dispensational Keystone"
The Doctrine of Grace
The Doctrine of the Incarnation
"The End of the World"
The Enemy within the Gate
The Faith
"The Fall" and "The Two Natures"
The Finality of the Thessalonian Epistles
The First Christians
"The First Christians" - A Correction
The Fulfillment of Isaiah 6: 9, 10
The Gospels Part 1
The Gospels Part 2
The Gospels Part 3
The Greek Preposition Part 1
The Greek Preposition Part 2
The Greek Scriptures Part 1
The Greek Scriptures Part 2
The Greek Scriptures Part 3
The Greek Scriptures Part 4
The Greek Scriptures Part 5
The Greek Scriptures Part 6
The Interpretation of the Thessalonian Epistles
The Kingdom - A Query
The Late Charles H. Welch
The Mature and the Perfect
"The Mystery": A Review
The Necessity for Repentance
"The New English Bible"
The Next Stage of the Kingdom
The Purpose of Acts
The Return of the Saving Work of God to Israel
The Right Question
The Roman Jews
The Secret of Romans 11:25-27
The Seventy Sevens and Ourselves
The Soulish and the Spiritual
"The Study of Human Destiny"
The Supposed Dispensational Frontier
The Teaching of J.J.B. Coles
The Trumpet of God
Theology as a Science
The Study of Prophecy
The Truth about "Dispensational Truth"
The Unity of God's Evangel
This Generation
Time and Eternity
To Israel as a Nation
Tongues
Unsound Words
What is Apostasy?
What Should We Do?
When and Why were the Gospels Written?
Wilful Blindness
Wine in the Lord's Supper

Copyright

The Differentiator Revisited 2013

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