Brother Anderson, from Draketown, Pa., asks the following question:

      "What does the word water refer to as found in 1 John v. 8?"

      The text to which reference is made reads thus: "And there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood."

      1. We observe in the first place that these words are no doubt spurious, and should not be a part of the sacred text. By consulting any good commentary the brother can ascertain the time when they were first made a part of this epistle.

      2. Being spurious, it is not of much consequence what they mean. It is, however, generally supposed that the terms correspond to those used in the sixth verse of the same chapter.

      3. The narrative is historical, and hence the reference must be, not to a present witnessing, but to witnesses to the divine mission of Christ as a historical personage claiming to be the Son of God. Inanimate things are represented as witnesses. There are water and blood. We believe that the former refers to the baptism of Christ, but not to Christian baptism; and the latter to the death of Christ upon the cross. This view is sustained by some strong arguments, although it is not the only interpretation given by learned men of this text.

      "Inquirer," from Netwaka, Kas., sends us the following:

      "Does the Church of God give license to exhort before giving license to preach, or does it give license to preach at once? What are the privileges of a licensed preacher? Have they the right to organize churches, baptize, administer the sacraments, &c.?"

      The practice of the different Elderships as to giving license to exhort varies. But while some give license to exhort, they do not do so as a grade in the ministry like deacons in the Methodist ministry. In the East Pennsylvania Eldership licenses to exhort are given, but many, indeed nearly all, who receive license to preach do so at once. License to exhort is not a stepping stone to the ministry among us.

      The regularly licensed preacher has the right to organize churches, baptize, administer the ordinances, solemnize marriage, etc.

      Brother E. Miller requests us to give our views of the following text: "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid."

      Our view of this passage is, that the sins of some men are such that all men can see their real character. There is no disguise, no hypocrisy, but an open and avowed following of the evil. Such men we can judge at once, and are not deceived by them. But this is not true of all bad men. Many appear righteous and pious, but their bad hearts gradually reveal themselves. Some men must be known and tried for a considerable time before we can ascertain what they really are.

      So with good men. Not that they appear bad, but they fall at first to develop a positive character. They are diffident and retired, and it is only after some length of trial and closer acquaintance that we learn properly to know them. But if they have good works there is no possibility of hiding them forever. With other good men it is the opposite. Their good works are ever going before them as heralds proclaiming what they are.

      The apostle may have written these proverbial sayings to Timothy to guide him in selecting and ordaining men to the various offices of the church. And in doing so he may even have had more than a merely moral judgment in view. However, we believe that this was primarily in view when he closed this chapter. He was laying down certain specific directions touching the elders of the churches, and had just said, "Lay hands hastily on no man." Then, after directions about wine-drinking, follow the above quoted words. Hence the most natural construction is the one which we have here given.

[The Church Advocate 40 (June 30, 1875): 4.]

      Christian H. Forney's "Questions Answered" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 9 (June 30, 1875), p. 4. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 4 June 1999.
Updated 13 July 2003.