20. Q.-I have noticed your answer to C. E. S.'s Question 6, in the April number of "Words of Faith," in which you speak of 2 Cor. 4:22But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2) as connected with actual death and resurrection; but I have the following difficulties, which I would like to lay before you: If it be so, why does he say "always"? Could a person be delivered to actual death more than once; could there be a continuance of this? Again, as to the expression which is in question, "mortal flesh," how can you speak of mortal flesh in resurrection? I could understand the life of Jesus being manifested then in the body which is now mortal, but the text speaks of the life of Jesus being manifested in our mortal flesh. And thirdly, why break off the text from its evident connection with verse 12, which speaks of the present ("so then, death works in us," &c.), to connect it with verse 14?
Mr. Darby, in his Synopsis, says: "But besides this (that contained in verse 10), God made him realize these things by the circumstances through which he had to pass; for, as living in the world, he was always delivered unto death for Jesus sake, in order that the life of Jesus might be manifested in his mortal flesh. Thus death wrought in the apostle, what was merely of man, of nature and natural life, disappeared, in order that life in Christ, developing itself in him on the part of God and by His power, should work in the Corinthians by this means."In this way all is perfectly simple to my mind, and no violence is done to a single word of the passage.
In this light the expression "mortal flesh" is to my mind full of beauty. We all know, thank God, that we shall be, in glory, perfectly conformed to Christ's image; but to me the thought has been exceedingly precious, that even now, whilst we have bodies subject to the power of death, God should bring this very power to bear upon us, for the smashing of the earthen vessel in which He has deposited the treasure, that the life of Jesus only may be seen. J. R.
A.-We have no wish to press our interpretation of 2 Cor. 4:22But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2), especially in the presence of the authority quoted against us, but it does seem to us that in using the words "mortal flesh," the apostle does not repeat himself, but had in his mind a further thought beyond that of the "body" as the vessel of the life of Jesus in his testimony to others, and that resurrection was before him for himself, as well as for those to whom he wrote. (See verses 13, 14.) The conjunction "and," omitted in our version, should properly come in before the "we." We would like to say in this connection, and it is our reason for inserting this letter that, while we seek, by the Lord's help, to comfort and teach others, we desire to be helped, corrected, and instructed ourselves—Rom. 1:11,1211For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. (Romans 1:11‑12). C. W.