Bible Student’s Resource Index

Forgiveness or Freedom? (Justification) The Greek word aphesis (G859) is a compound word: “from-letting” ( Concordant Keyword Concordance ) meaning “freedom from.” Ultimate freedom from sin is far more than the traditional “ forgiveness ” or “ pardon .” These are rooted in guilt. The followers of religion seek to obtain forgiveness through some means – concerted effort, confessions, prayers, penance, resolutions, etc. What Paul taught went well beyond “ forgiveness .” The revelation given to him involved “ justification ,” which instead of being rooted in guilt, is rooted in righteousness. “ In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the freedom from sins, according to the riches of His grace ” (Ephesians 1:7, BSV ). RESOURCES Book Resource: Ultimate Liberation: Beyond Forgiveness (The Justification from and of Sin) , Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr., Bible Student’s Press

One God and One Lord The Scriptures plainly teach that “ there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER, …. and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST ” (I Corinthians 8:6). The only absolute God is “ the Father ,” and He has NO equals. The Lord Jesus Christ is a part of His creation; the Spirit is an expression meaning God’s spirit. Christendom’s teaching of the Trinity does great dishonor to both the Father and His Son, diminishing the true glory that belongs uniquely to each. “ The man Christ Jesus ” (I Timothy 2:5), is "the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). The Scripture does not support a view of Jesus Christ as “God incarnate,” “God the Son,” or a pre-existent divine visitor. A combination of misguided theology and pagan speculation is responsible for the intrusion of Christianity’s unbiblical doctrines concerning Christ. Book Resources: No Equals! ,   Bible Student's Press Firstborn:  Exposing the Myth of Pre-existence (A Synoptical Examination),  Steve Martin,  Bible ...

"Eternal," "Everlasting" and "Forever" (Aiōnios) The words “ eternal, ” “ everlasting ” and “ forever ” are translations of the Greek word αι ̓ ω ́ νιος ( aio ̄ nios ), which is the adjective of the Greek noun αι ̓ ω ́ ν ( aio ̄ n ) meaning “age” or “eon.” Thus, αι ̓ ω ́ νιος ( aio ̄ nios ) never carries the sense of “ eternal ” in Scripture, and literal translations that accurately convey its meaning render it “ age-during ” (YLT), “ age-abiding ” ( REB ), “ age-lasting ” ( ED ), and “ eonian ” ( CV ). Book Resource: An Analytical Study of Words,  Louis Abbott (1915-1996), Bible Student's Press

  Condescension   “For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).   With God, being the Infinite Creator, and we, being His finite creatures, it is impossible to grasp even the most basics of His essence without divine education.   A keyway in which this instruction develops is through a revelatory, illustrative means known as “condescension.” By this God relates to us in very human ways – in methods that we can understand.   This condescension is progressive – from elementary though many medial stages, then from these medial phases to those which are advanced. Thus, as we learn the foundational elements, we then move on, bit-by-bit, to greater and greater divine figures. This principle has been displayed in the past through “ many portions and many modes” (Hebrews 1:1, CV ).   For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, ...

The So-Called “The Prison Epistles” – “The Perfection Epistles” Ephesians and Colossians are the epistles of the Secret Administration. Many who came to see the dispensational boundary line of Acts 28 and/or the Secret Administration included other epistles they saw as written after Acts 28. Some referred to these epistles as “the Prison Epistles,” or “the Perfection Epistles.” It is easy to understand why they did so. We in fact once held such a view. Yet, we believe upon a closer examination of the epistle other than Ephesians and Colossians, that these fit doctrinally to that hope prior to Acts 28. We now see that even Philippians stood on the threshold of the grand Ephesian-Colossian writings, it being the gateway epistle to the Celestial writings of Paul.  Book Resource: Ephesians & Colossians:  Scripture for the Present Administration , Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr., Bible Student’s Press.

The Consummation God’s creation is being restored in stages throughout the ages, and will find its complete culmination at the “ Consummation ” of the ages (“ the Day of God” ). At that time all death will be abolished, as well as all illusory human “sovereignty,” “authority,” and “free will.” In the “ Consummation ” (I Corinthains 15:24, CV ) we find the Ultimate Sphere of Glory, a place where God Himself is “All in all.” God created the entire universe out of Himself. There once was nothing but God, and everything came forth out of Him. Of a surety, “out of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are ALL things” (Romans 11:36). God is the beginning of “all,” and He will be the consummation of “all.” This is the divine goal : “that God will be All in all” (I Corinthians 15:28, DT ). In other words, God will be “Everything in everything” and “Everything to everyone.” Hi s entire creation – without exception – will be gloriously complete and in perfect harmony with Himself; all that...