Truth Magazine

By Roy E. Cogdill

Unity is primarily a congregational problem. What the Bible teaches on unity is principally applicable to the local church. Unity in the local church is an individual obligation. It grows out of the obligations that rest mutually on those who are fellow members of the local church.

We are interested in the obligation to restore unity where it has been disturbed and to preserve unity where it exists. Every member of a local church shares with every other member the obligation to contribute to its unity. This obligation is emphasized by the Holy Spirit in Eph. 4:3, “Endeavoring (giving diligence-ASV) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This is a matter in which all must be diligent. Constant attention and effort is required to preserve unity. The devil is always alert to every opportunity to create disturbance, alienate and set at variance those who should be united in the service of Christ. We cannot be too careful to avoid it. The advancement and progress of the Kingdom of Christ and the salvation of souls in addition to our own is involved. Faithfulness in doing the will of God requires it.

In the first letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul spent the first four chapters dealing with a divided condition in that church. The Corinthians were full of false pride and haughtiness. They had grown into a large congregation and were probably boasting of their great program of work. They gloried in the great numbers in attendance, the many additions they were having, their fine building, their wealth, and many other outward signs of their strength as a church. Paul called this attitude “carnality” (1 Cor. 3:1-3)-a fleshly and worldly disposition and rebuked them for their glorying in these outward things rather than being ashamed and mourning for the sad state of the Lord’s Church because of their division and sinfulness otherwise (1 Cor. 4:6-13. 5:2).

There is much evidence of such an attitude today among churches of Christ everywhere. We take great pride in our rate of growth and write great swelling words to the various publicity mediums in our country about how rapidly we are growing and have grown. We boast about the great institutions we are building and the great programs of work that are being carried out, expanding them out of all truthfulness and proportion by our imaginations. We raise from the churches staggering sums of money for about everything under the sun, whether it is a part of the mission that God has given His Church or not (all the way from sending great evangelistic parties, including a good percentage of female “missionaries,” all over the world, to sending cows to Korea and a veterinarian to take care of them.

One of the modern fads among the big promoters and braggards among us is to take a world tour at the expense of the churches. You can raise money for anything except the simple truth of the Gospel). Thus we are “puffed up” and boast and blow until we convince ourselves that we are “on the march” and really doing “greater things for God” than even He ever planned. When we should rather be “ashamed and mourn” for the division and sin that characterizes us everywhere.

Congregations are dividing over what a lot of brethren are contending are “mere matters of method,” “opinion” and “human expediency,” yet we go right ahead introducing them, contending for them, and pushing them to the disruption of the peace of local churches. Our schemes and promotions have become such idols in our hearts that we cannot regard our obligation to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

We need to learn all over again, if we have ever known them, the requirements laid down by the Spirit through Paul to these Corinthians for restoring the unity which they were destroying in their “carnality.” Read carefully again 1 Cor. 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

1. Speak the same thing. This would eliminate the preaching of opinions, private judgments, human wisdom, “Questionings and disputes of words,” “fables,” “striving about words to no profit,” “vain babbling,” “excellency of speech, or of wisdom (our own),” and would cause us in “weakness and fear and in much trembling” to be satisfied with preaching “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” There is no possibility of unity where this is not done.

2. That there be no divisions among you. Division is not justifiable at any cost save truth and righteousness. We cannot condone sin or compromise with error for the sake of avoiding division. This would purchase peace with men at the expense of peace with God and that is too great a price to pay. But nothing else, including, personal feelings, pride, regard for men, our own preferences, wisdom or judgment, will justify division. Truth and righteousness must be upheld at any cost. (Read Matt. 10:34-39).

3. Be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. This involves the right attitude toward each other. It will not allow parties, cliques, or clans to arise in the congregation. It forbids “respect of persons” (James 2:1-13). It requires generosity of heart, humility of soul, meekness in disposition and enough love for the souls of the brethren to make us willing to always be interested in their spiritual welfare.

These are simple rules but they involve much.

Truth Magazine, XX:26, p. 6
June 24, 1976

By Cecil Willis

The Cogdill Foundation, which publishes Truth Magazine, has obtained exclusive publication rights to the six volume Bible Commentary written by Brother E. M. Zerr. This set, covering both Old and New Testaments, is available in an impressive hardback binding. The dark green binding material looks beautiful, stamped in gold lettering, and should serve the average user a life-time. The six books consist of approximately 400 pages each. The set sells for $32.50, and single volumes sell for $5.95 each. A customary trade discount is allowed to other retail outlets. These books may be ordered from Truth Magazine Bookstore, Box 403, Marion, Indiana 46952, or through your favorite religious bookstore.

Information About E. M. Zerr

Brother Zerr was quite well-known among a group of very conservative brethren, but he may not have been known among brethren in general. Hence, a little information concerning him is here given. Edward Michael Zerr was born October 15, 1877 in Strassburg, Illinois, but his family soon thereafter moved to Missouri. He was the second of six children born to Lawrence and Mary (Manning) Zerr. Brother Zerr’s father was reared as a Catholic, but after he married Mary Manning, he obeyed the gospel. At the age of seventeen, young Edward was immersed into Christ in Grand River, near Bosworth, Missouri.

In June, 1897 young Brother E. M. Zerr received a letter from A. L. Gepford asking him to go to Green Valley, Illinois, and to preach in his stead. His first sermon was entitled, “My Responsibility as a Preacher of the Gospel, and Your Responsibility as Hearers.” In the years between delivery of this first sermon on July 3, 1897, and the delivery of his last sermon on October 25, 1959, Brother Zerr preached about 8,000 sermons, from California to Connecticut, and from Washington to Arizona. It is noteworthy that his last sermon was built around Matt. 13:44, and was entitled “Full Surrender.” Brother Zerr preached the gospel for a little over 60 years.

Among the brethren with whom Brother Zerr was most frequently associated, it was then common to have protracted periods of concentrated Bible studies, commonly referred to as “Bible Readings.” Young Brother Zerr attended a three month “Bible Reading” conducted by the well-known teacher, A. M. Morris, in 1899. During this study which was conducted at Hillsboro, Henry County, Indiana, Brother Zerr stayed in the home of a farmer named John Hill. After leaving the John and Matilda Hill farm, “E. M.” began correspondence with their daughter, Carrie. The following year, while attending a “Bible Reading” conducted by Daniel Sommer in Indianapolis, “E. M.” and Carrie were married, on September 27, 1900. The newly weds took up residence in New Castle, Indiana, where their four children were born., one of whom died in infancy.

In 1911, Brother A. W. Harvey arranged for Brother Zerr to conduct a “Bible Reading” which continued for several months at Palmyra, Indiana. These “Bible Readings” usually consisted of two two-hour sessions daily. Young Brother Zerr’s special ability as a teacher was soon recognized, and he continued to conduct such studies among churches of Christ for 48 years. Edward M. Zerr died February 22, 1960, having been in a coma for four months following an automobile accident at Martinsville, Indiana. His body was laid to rest in the little country cemetery at Hillsboro, Indiana, near the church building in which he had attended his first “Bible Reading.”

Brother Zerr’s Writings

In addition to his oral teaching and preaching, Brother Zerr was a prolific writer. He was a regular contributor to several religious periodicals. Brother Zerr also composed the music and lyrics of several religious songs. Two of these, “The True Riches,” and “I Come to Thee,” may be found in the widely used song book, Sacred Selections.

One of the books written by Brother Zerr is entitled Historical Quotations, and consists of the gleanings from 40,000 pages of ancient history and other critical sources which he read over a period of twenty years. These quotations are intended to explain and to confirm the prophetic and other technical statements of the Bible. Another book, a 434 page hard-cover binding, consists of a study course containing 16,000 Bible questions. This book, New Testament Questions, has at least 50 questions on each chapter of the New Testament. A smaller book, Bible Reading Notes, consists of some of the copious notes which Brother Zerr made in connection with the “Bible Readings” which he conducted.

But the crowning success of his efforts was the writing of his six volume commentary on the whole Bible.

These six volumes were published between 1947 and 1955. Brother Zerr has the unique distinction, so far as is known to this writer, of being the only member of the church to write a commentary on the entire Bible. Many other brethren have written excellent and valuable commentaries on various books of the Bible, but no other brother has written on the entire Bible.

The writing of this commentary consumed more than seven years of full-time labor. In order that he might devote himself without interruption to this herculean effort, Brother Zerr was supported by the Newcastle church during this seven year period. It is unfortunate, in this writer’s judgment, that other competent men have not been entirely freed of other duties that they might give themselves to such mammoth writing assignments. Through Bible Commentary, Brother E. M. Zerr, though dead since 1960, will continue to do what he liked best to do-conduct “Bible Readings” for many years to come. The current printing is the fifth printing of the Old Testament section (four volumes) of the commentary, and the sixth printing of the New Testament section (two volumes).

Many Christians spend but little money on available helps in Bible study. Some own perhaps only a Cruden’s Concordance, a Bible Dictionary of some kind, and then Johnson’s Notes. It would be interesting to know how many copies of B. W. Johnson’s The People’s New Testament Commentary With Notes nave been sold. If I were to hazard a guess, it would be that at least 1,000,000 copies of this superficial commentary have been sold. Johnson’s Notes contains the printing of the entire New Testament text in both King James Version and the English Revised Version (the predecessor to the American Standard Version), and his comments, all contained in two volumes. In fact, a single volume edition also is available. Thus one is buying two copies of the New Testament, and B. W. Johnson’s Notes, in one or two volumes. So necessarily, Johnson’s Notes are very brief.

If brethren somehow could be made acquainted with Brother Zerr’s Bible Commentary, it is possible that it could be as widely used as has been Johnson’s Notes, first published in 1889. Brother Zerr printed very little of the Bible text in his commentary. He assumed you would have your own Bible nearby. To have printed in the commentary the entire Bible would have required at least three other volumes. While it would have been helpful to have the Bible text printed by the comments, this unnecessary luxury would have been very expensive, since we all have copies of the Scriptures already. Furthermore, Brother Zerr intended that one be compelled to use his Bible, in order that his commentary never supplant the Sacred text.

A Word of Caution

I am sure that Brother Zerr, were he yet living, would advise me to remind you that his Bible Commentary is only that of a man, though a studious man he was. In fact, in the “Preface” to this set of books, just such a word of warning is sounded by Brother Zerr. The only book which we recommend without reservation is the Bible! But Bible commentaries, when viewed merely as the results of many years of study by scholarly men, can be very helpful to one.

Brother Zerr spent his life-time working among those brethren who have stood opposed to “located preachers” and to “Bible Colleges.” However, he has not “featured” these distinctive views in his Bible Commentary. If one did not know of these positions held by Brother Zerr, he might not even detect the references to them in the commentary. However, I want to call such references to your attention. Along with the opposition to “located preachers,” Brother Zerr also held a position commonly referred to as “Evangelistic Oversight.” This position declares that until a congregation has qualified elders appointed, each congregation should be under the oversight of some evangelist. With these positions, this writer cannot agree. References to these positions will be found in his comments on Acts 20:28; Eph. 3:10; 3:21; 4:11; 1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Tim. 4:5, and perhaps in a few other places that do not now come to memory. Brother Zerr also took the position that a woman should never cut or even trim her hair. His comments on this position will be found at 1 Cor. 11:1-16.

But aside from a very few such positions with which many of us would disagree, Brother Zerr’s Bible Commentary can be very helpful. Some restoration period writers of widely used commentaries held some rather bizarre positions regarding the millennium. Brethren scruple not to use Barnes’ Notes, in spite of his repeated injection of Calvinism, and Clark’s Commentary, in spite of his Methodist teaching.

Brother Zerr’s Bible Commentary is far superior to Johnson’s Notes. Though there are some extraordinarily good volumes in the well-known Gospel Advocate commentaries, there also are some notoriously weak volumes in this widely used set. Viewed from the point of consistent quality, Brother Zerr’s Bible Commentary is superior to the Gospel Advocate set. Some brethren whom I consider to be superior exegetes of the Word have highly recommended Zerr’s Bible Commentary and have praised the splendid and incisive way in which he has handled even those “hard to be understood” sections of God’s Word.

Our recommendation regarding E. M. Zerr’s six volume commentary can be paraphrased from the words of a well-known television commercial: “Try it; you’ll like it!”

Truth Magazine, XX:26, p. 3-5
June 24, 1976

By Larry Ray Hafley

REPLY:

Since the question is broad and general, the answer must deal with the New Testament mold or form of doctrine. The church cannot do anything that is not authorized by its head, the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22,, 23). Whatever is not in harmony with what the Bible reveals is a sinful practice. Let us see what the pattern for one church to send money to another church is in the word o# God. When we do so, we shall have all the truth, and all that is contrary to it is sin (Matt. 28:20; 2 Jn. 9).

Baptism Parallel

In order to have scriptural baptism, one must have:

1. THE PROPER ACTION: Baptism is immersion (Acts 8:35-39; Rom. 6:4). No other action is found in the Scriptures. Whatever differs from this is improper or unscriptural action. Sprinkling, for example, is an improper, unscriptural action.

2. THE PROPER SUBJECTS: Subjects for baptism must be penitent believers (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38). There is no exception to this in the Bible. Any person who does not fulfill these qualifications is an improper, unscriptural candidate. Unbelievers are improper subjects.

3. THE PROPER ACTION: Baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38); that is, to be saved (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). Baptism for other purposes cannot be documented with Scripture, hence, they are improper, unscriptural reasons for baptism. Baptism as an “outward profession of an inward faith and salvation” is an improper, unscriptural purpose.

Likewise

Regarding the sending of money from one church to another church, the Bible reveals:

1. THE PROPER ACTION: A gift from one church to another church (1 Cor. 16:1-3). Each church collects and gives. This is the proper action. Another action, such as the pooling of funds of churches under one overseeing church and eldership, is improper and unscriptural. Such action simply is not found in the New Testament. No church ever sent through another church, never had another church as its agent, for any purpose. The centralization of funds under one church is parallel to sprinkling. It is another action.

2. THE PROPER SUBJECTS: The churches must have inequality; that is, there must be a church with power or ability to give and a church in want or need (2 Cor. 8:12-14). There is no exception to these subjects in the New Testament. Whenever goods were exchanged, one church was able to give and another was in need–there was inequality. The need concerned the “poor saints” (Rom. 15:25-27). Other subjects, churches able to meet the needs of their saints, are improper and unscriptural. Churches sending money to churches with equality are improper subjects. It is like baptizing one who does not believe; they are not scriptural subjects.

3. THE PROPER DESIGN: The proper design is, said Paul, “that there may be equality” (2, Cor. 8:14). This is the purpose of the gift from one church to. another church. “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance also may be a supply for your want:: that there may be equality” (2 Con 8:13, 14). If relief, easing the burden of others from the supply of another “that there may be equality” is not the reason one church sends money to another church, it is an improper, unscriptural reason.

Conclusion

The answer to our querist’s question must be negative. “Can one baptize another for just any reason?” No, baptism must be performed in strict accordance and adherence to the New Testament pattern. So it is with money sent from one church to another church. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17).

Truth Magazine, XX:26, p. 2
June 24, 1976

By Mike Willis

James Burton Coffman has begun the task of writing a series of commentaries on the New Testament. Already he has written single volumes on all of the gospels and on the book of Hebrews. These commentaries are written with the average Christian in mind; they are not limited to the scholar, although it does reflect serious study of the text itself. Although Coffman has written in the books of the New Testament on which our brethren have done some of their best works, without a doubt these books will be valuable tools to future generations. Coffman has invested himself sufficiently into this work to turn out something that will be useful for future generations.

My only criticism of these books is that the bibliography shows a lack of acquaintance with some of the most important commentaries on the various books on which the author has written. Perhaps acquaintance with these books would have only made the books so scholarly that they would have been useless for the average man. However, I feel that a greater exposure to some of the more reputable scholarly works would have enhanced the value of these commentaries.

Each of the volumes of this set sell for $6.95. As I said, at the present, Coffman has commentaries available on Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Hebrews. As later volumes are published, I shall let you know about them. I am sure that you will want to add this set of commentaries to your library whether you are a preacher or not. They are published by Firm Foundation Publishing House.

A Commentary on Genesis by Harold G. Stigers. Zondervan Publishing House. Price $12.95.

This new commentary on Genesis looks extremely good. Stigers is opposed to the documentary hypothesis expounded by modernists and spends some time in his introduction explaining why he has rejected it. The commentary shows an acquaintance with both the Hebrew text and modern scholarship regarding it. There are frequent word studies in the commentary which help to clarify the difficult passages in it. There are many references to the pertinent archaeological discoveries which relate to the exposition of the book of Genesis. Although this work will not replace the older works on Genesis, it will certainly supplement them.

The Training of the Twelve by A. B. Bruce. Kregel Publications. Price $6.95.

Those who are familiar with this book will be delighted to know that Kregel has reprinted it. Dr. Bruce has done a masterful job of relating the life of Christ to its impact on the twelve apostles whom he had chosen to carry his message into the world. There are insights in this work which you have not previously seen. Whether you are studying the lives of the twelve apostles or the life of Christ, you will want to know what Bruce has written on the subject.

Truth Magazine, XX:25, p. 13-14
June 17, 1976