1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

were dissolved we have a (singular number) building of God, ahouse not made with hands, etc.Paul was writing to the Corinthians here, but he was also writing"to all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ ourLord, both theirs and ours." 1 Cor. 1:2. The word "theirs" refersevidently to Jews. Paul was a Jew, Acts 21:39, but he styleshimself "the Apostle of the Gentiles," Rom. 11:13; so inharmony with the latter he could in this dedication of his epistlesay, "both theirs and ours" to the new Church, which was madeup of both Jews and Gentiles. They (the Jews) stood aloof fromthe Gospel and were enemies of the cross of Christ; thusstanding at a distance, the term "theirs," although Paul was aJew, was appropriate to them, and convertsR179 : page 4from both could be very appropriately called "theirs and ours."Now, to such he says, "We know that if our earthly house of thistabernacle (to which so many precious promises have beenmade) were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house notmade with hands." It may seem strange to us that the old houseof Israel should not be able to see the typical nature of theirceremonies, and that "whatever is to be on the higher or spiritualplane, is brought to view first on the plane of the flesh," butthough God had been speaking "by the mouth of all the holyprophets since the world began," of a restitution, they did notsee that there was to be, in its application to them, a time ofdissolution, before the time of restitution; and it seems that theGospel Church in Paul's time, needed to be admonished of thedanger of looking at that which is seen, forgetting that "thatwhich is seen (by mortal eye) is temporal."He had to combat that tendency, as in Galations 3:3. "Are ye sofoolish? having began in the spirit, are ye now made perfect bythe flesh?" "If our earthly house of this tabernacle weredissolved, we have a building of God."The "tabernacle of David is fallen down," but God in his goodtime will rebuild it; but those who are "begotten again unto alively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"have the power or privilege of becoming sons of God, andtogether will constitute the house of God; not the house ofMoses nor the house of David (after the flesh) nor any otherhouse but the house of God eternal."Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,considerR180 : page 4the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, whowas faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses wasfaithful in all His house, for this Man was counted worthy of