Daniel 12:2: “Shall awake, some to everlasting life.” This is not resurrection but the regathering of Israel from the Gentiles, the restoration of some to kingdom blessings (Psalm 71:20, J.N.D. Trans.; Isa. 26:19; Ezek. 37; Hos. 6:2; Rom. 11:15). “Everlasting life” here and “life for evermore” (Psalm 133:3) is millennial and alluded to in Matthew 19:16, 29; 26:46; Mark 10:17, 30; Luke 10:26; 18:18. Now in Christianity, commencing with John 3:15, “eternal life” has a special character as being life enjoyed in communion with God and by the Holy Spirit given from Christ glorified, consequent upon His having completed the work of redemption.
Mark 16:9-20: “Found in more than 500 Greek manuscripts... all Syriac and Coptic and most Latin and Gothic versions, but Eusebius and Jerome state, ‘Nearly all trustworthy copies omit,’ also Vaticanus and Sinaiticus” wrote Constantine Tischendorf (in 1868). “The two oldest, Sinaiticus and Vaticanus (corrupt testimony) omit. B left the only blank in the New Testament here! —aware of omission. All other writings and translations have ‘I read them as Scripture.’” J.N.D.
“No good version of antiquity omits... the vast mass of positive testimony and the internal character prove not only it is inspired Scripture, but from none other than Mark himself.” Wm. K.
... Verse 8 would be a strange ending to Mark’s gospel verses 15, 19 and 20 are very much in keeping with this “servant gospel.”
Luke 6:1: Although three uncials and four cursives omit “the second-first” (Sabbath), 13 uncials, almost all cursives and versions and many “fathers” do have it. It seems strange until understood in the light of Leviticus 23:10-14 as fulfilled in Christ, “the sheaf of first-fruits” in resurrection. He was in the grave during the “great day” Sabbath of John 19:31. From it the next was “the second” which was the “first” of the series of “seven sabbaths” which led to Pentecost. Thus it was “the second-first sabbath” according to Leviticus 23, and it was proper for the disciples to pluck and eat the corn.
John 3:13: “Who is in heaven” is omitted by the Sinai, Vatican, two other uncials and a cursive; but the mass of authoritives have it. Christ became a man, but did not, could not, cease to be God. This is infinite truth, “the Son of man, who is in heaven.” “The only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father.” “I am.” This could be said of none other than Mm who was “the true God and eternal life.” Here we are on holy ground.
John 7:53-8:11: This is omitted in many ancient copies. But several uncials, over 330 cursives, the Vulgate and later Syriac have it. Augustine says, “Persons of small faith, or rather enemies of the faith, have taken it away.” In some copies the portion was torn out, while gaps were left in others designedly. Sixteen place it elsewhere. It is a perfect introduction to chapter eight. Verse 12, “I am the light of the world,” exposed those black hearts.
1 Corinthians 9:27: “Lest... I myself should be a castaway.” That is “reprobate,” worthless, refused (as Jer. 6:30; 2 Cor. 13:5-7; 2 Tim. 3:8; Titus 1:16); not merely one’s service, rejected and thus one set aside, but unconverted preachers like Judas will in the end be exposed to their everlasting shame. Many baptized never reached Canaan in the following twelve verses. Counterfeits never were genuine (verse 26).
1 Corinthians 15:29: “Baptized for the dead.” This refers to filling in the Christian ranks by new recruits being baptized, and taking the place of those who had died in faith of the resurrection.
Ephesians 4:22: As to putting off the old man, here it appears to be that which pertained to him. “Sin in the flesh” as well as “flesh of sin” show a relation between “our old man” and our “old nature.” “Our old man” has been crucified. He was once and for all dealt with on the cross when Christ as our Substitute was made sin for us (Rom. 6:6; Col. 2:11; 3:9; Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21). And so J. N. D. translates Ephesians 4:22, “Having put off... the old man.” The Englishman’s Greek New Testament also translates it “Having put off... the old man.” Seeing that this has long ago taken place is a great relief. We still have our old nature to disallow (Col. 3:5), etc.
Titus 3:5: “Regeneration.” As Matthew 19:28 refers to the new millennial order, so does our word in Titus refer to the new order into which the Christian has been brought (2 Cor. 5:17, 18; Col. 1:13). It is distinct from “born again,” which refers to the new nature imparted to saints in all dispensations.
1 Peter 3:19: “He went and preached to the spirits in prison.” When? “When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing.” The Holy Spirit used Noah as “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5) to these now disembodied spirits who had been “disobedient” and whose bodies perished in the flood.
1 John 2:2: “Also for the sins of the whole world.” The translators added the three words, “the sins of,” without warrant. The Scriptures are always guarded against saying that the sins of unbelievers have had settlement made. Faith alone can appropriate such special truth. God has been propitiated, vindicated and glorified in spite of all sin. Leviticus 16:15, 16 gives this in type while verses 20-22 presents substitution for the sins of His people (1 Peter 2:24), etc.
1 John 3:4: “Sin is the transgression of the law.” This should read “Sin is lawlessness.” Lawlessness existed long before the law was ever given. See Romans 5:13, 14.