41. V. ILLUSTRATIONS OF STRUCTURE: 1 PET. III. 19

The verses which follow (iii. 17—iv. 6) are added as the reason, which is given in proof of this statement of the Scope of this Epistle. The word "FOR" introduces it, and thus tells us that we have arrived at the very kernel of the whole Epistle. Not some passage which we are to explain as best we can and as though we wished it were not there: but which we are to embrace as all-important, and as though it were indispensable, as it is, to the subject of the Epistle. But here again we must go back; for though we see that these verses (iii. 17—iv. 6) occur in the member "b," yet we see also that they form only a part of that member.

It is necessary for us, therefore, to go back, and see whether it is really an integral part, and whether the break in the whole member (ii. 11—iv. 6) really does occur at iii. 17. Expansion of "b" (1 Peter ii. 11—iv. 6).

(Extended Alternation.)

b D | ii. 11. Exhortations (Personal).

E | ii. 12. Calumnies: and how to refute them.

F ii. 13—iii. 7. Submission to man for the Lord's sake: "The will of God" (ii. 15). Reason: "For" (ii. 21), and Example of Christ in His sufferings.

D | iii. 8—15. Exhortations (General).

E | iii. 16. Calumnies: and how to refute them.

F. iii. 17—iv. 6. Submission to man for the Lord's sake: "The will of God" (iii. 17). Reason: "For" (iii. 18), and Example of Christ in His glorification.

The Correspondence of these members, each to each, is exceedingly exact and minute. From this we see that the last member F does actually commence with iii. 17, the "For" corresponding exactly with the "For" in ch. ii. 21: each "for" introducing the example of Christ. 1 We cannot break off at end of ch. iii. for ch. iv. begins "Forasmuch then," which shows that it follows in close continuation of ch. iii.

Now we are, at length, in a position to examine the further delimitation of this member F (iii. 17—iv. 6): which is as follows:—

The Reasons for Submission to the Will of God

(1 Peter iii. 17—iv. 6).

(Simple Alternation Combined with Introversion.)

F G c iii. 17. Reason for our suffering here, in the flesh,

"if the will of God be so."

d iii. 18-. Reason for Christ's suffering here as to His flesh, "put to death."

H iii. -18-22. Christ's glory which followed.

(Resurrection, Triumph, Glory, and

Dominion).

G d iv. 1-. Reason for Christ's suffering here, in the flesh.

c -1-5. Our suffering here in the flesh, at the

"will of man," by "the will of God."

H iv. 6. Reason for our glory which shall follow. Though judged in the flesh according to the "will of man," we shall live again in resurrection according to the "will of God" (Compare v. 19).

Here we see the beautiful contrast between our suffering and Christ's; our glory and Christ's. This leads us up, naturally, to Christ's example, which follows verses 18-22, with which we are now concerned.

We see, from the above Structure, that these particular verses are located in the member "H," the subject of which is the Example of Christ in His glorification, corresponding with His example in ch. ii. 21, which was

Christ in His suffering.

In H (ch. iii. 18-22) the two examples are combined in order to connect the sufferings with the glory; and to show that Christ's glorious triumph which followed was the reason why it is better to suffer here, and now.

(Compare ch. iii. -18, with ch. iv. -6.)

This is the triumph referred to in Col. ii. 14, 15, where, having "spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

v. ILLUSTRATIONS OF STRUCTURE: 1 PET. III. 19

The Triumph of Christ (II. 1 Peter iii. 18--22).

(Introversion and Extended Alternation.)

H. J. e | iii. 18. The Resurrection of Christ.

f 19. Result. πρεσβείς (porcuthieis), having gone (to Tartarus, 2 Pet. ii. 4) He made proclamation of His Triumph to the in-prison spirits or angels.

g 20-. The insubjection of spirits in the days of Noah (Gen. vi. 2 Pet. ii. 4. Jude 6).

K. -20. Noah saved then. Ark the type. Material water the means.

K 21-. We saved now. Baptism the Antitype. Spiritual water the means.

J. e | -21. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

f 22-. Result. πρεσβείς, having gone into heaven, is on the right hand of God.

g -22. The subjection of angels, authorities, and powers.

Here we come to the direct proof that verses 18-22 have for their subject the "glory" of Christ, which followed on His "sufferings," forming the reason why "it is better to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing." We see also the importance of the Structure in giving us the interpretation: for the "spirits" in verse 20 are shown to be "angels" in verse 22: the insubjection of the former being set in contrast with the latter. Thus we have another example of our second great principle that the scope, or subject, of a passage is to be sought for in its Structure.

We have also some evidence as to the Divine origin of Scripture. For, these Structures are altogether beyond the power of "unlearned and ignorant men" such as Peter was (Acts iv. 13), and are the best possible proofs we can have of Divine Inspiration. (c) "Testament" and Covenant (Heb. ix. 15-23).-This will furnish us with an illustration of what we have already said on this passage above (pages 195-197).

There we have shown how the meaning of certain words in this passage is determined by its Scope. Now we have to show how the scope, and, therefore, the interpretation of the passage is determined by its Structure. It is more profitable to show this in the case of passages we have already dealt with above, than to seek for other examples which would only divert our thoughts instead of concentrating them on the further elucidation of passages already in our minds. When we say that Heb. ix. 15-23 forms a distinct member by itself, the burden of proof devolves upon us; for, we may not make this arbitrary statement: we must show that it is so in fact, and that it has its own separate place in The Epistle to the Hebrews as a whole.

(Introversion and Simple Alternation.)

A | i., ii. Doctrinal Introduction.

B iii. 1-iv. 13. The Mission of Christ.

C iv. 14-16. General Application. ("Εχοντες οὖν, "Having therefore") Boldness.

B | v. 1-x. 18. The Priesthood of Christ.

C x. 19-xii. 29. Particular Application. ("Εχοντες οὖν, "Having therefore") Boldness.

A xiii. Practical Conclusion.

We are now in a position to see where our particular passage (ch. ix. 15-23) comes in.

It is in the member marked B (ch. v. 1-x. 18) that we find it.

We have to see, next, what particular part of that member it occupies, before we can discover its Scope.

Having thus given the Structure of the Epistle to the Hebrews as a whole, we are now in a position to see where the particular passage which we are considering comes in.

We have before remarked that we cannot be guided in this matter by the chapter-breaks; which are entirely and only of human authority, which is no authority at all.

In the case of an Epistle, we are compelled therefore to begin with the Epistle as a whole before we can discover the position of a particular passage or verse.

v. ILLUSTRATIONS OF STRUCTURE: HER. IX. 15-23

The Structure of this member B, is based on the same model on which the Epistle itself, as a whole, is framed; and it is as follows:

The Priesthood of Christ.

(B, Heb. v. 1-x. 18.)

(Introversion, combined with Simple Alternation.)

B a v. 1-4. The Nature of Priesthood in General. πᾶς γᾶς (pas gar) "for every . . ."

b v. 5-10. Christ called by God after the order of Melchisedec.

c v. 11- vi. 20. Digression, concerning Melchisedec as the Type.

b vii. Christ called by God after the order of Melchisedec.

c viii. 1, 2. Summation, concerning Christ as the Antitype.

a viii. 3- x. 18. The Efficacy of Christ's Priesthood in particular. πᾶς γᾶς (pas gar) "for every . . ."

Now we see that the verses we are seeking (Heb. ix. 15-23) form part of a larger member, viz., Heb. viii. 3- x. 18, and that, in the above expansion, it is the member marked "a," which is the last member of the above Structure; and further, we see that its subject is the Efficacy and Superiority of Christ's Sacrifice as compared with the Priesthood of Aaron under the Law. All we have to do now is to get the Scope of this member (a, ch. viii. 3-x. 18) by observing its own special Structure.

We have said above that all these larger members have their own peculiar construction; but we must not be tempted nor turned aside from our main purpose; we must confine our attention, in each case, to the particular members involved in our search: and continue this until we narrow the whole question down to the passage we are examining, and are able to locate the verses (ch. ix. 15-23) and thus discover their scope. We are now in a position to do this by expanding the member "a," above, which we shall find to be as follows:-

The Efficacy and Superiority of Christ's Priesthood.

(a, Heb. viii. 3—x. 18).

(Extended Alternation.)

a d viii. 3—6. Christ's Priesthood. "A more excellent ministry," "a better covenant" on "better promises."

e viii. 7—13. The Old and New Covenants compared and contrasted.

f ix. 1—5. The Earthly Sanctuary a copy of the Heavenly Pattern.

g ix. 6—10. The Offerings.

d ix. 11—14. Christ's Priesthood. "A greater and more perfect Tabernacle." "His own blood."

e ix. 15—23. The Old and New Covenants compared and contrasted.

f ix. 24. The Heavenly Sanctuary the pattern of the Earthly Copy.

g ix. 25—x. 18. The Offerings.

Here we see that our special member which we are tracking out is found in that marked "e," ch. ix. 15—23. Thus, at length, we learn that its subject is The Old and New Covenants Compared and Contrasted. This settles its Scope for us. All that remains for us to do now is to confirm it by discovering its own Structure and seeing whether this be really the case.

To see the full force of this it will be well to look also at the member with which it stands in Correspondence, viz., "e," ch. viii. 7—13, which is an Introversion. It also follows the model of the Epistle as a whole. The Old and New Covenants Compared and Contrasted.

(e, Heb. viii. 7—13.)

(Introversion and Simple Alternation.)

e h, 7, 8. The First Covenant Faulty.

i 9. The New Covenant (Negative). Not the same in the making and material.

k 10. The New Covenant (Positive). Spiritual.

i 11. The New Covenant (Negative). Not the same in its result and effect.

k 12. The New Covenant (Positive). Spiritual.

h 13. The First Covenant Evanescent.

v ILLUSTRATIONS OF STRUCTURE: HEB. IX. 15-23

Now we are in a position to look at the member with which we are specially concerned, and again we notice that the Structure follows the model of the Epistle as a whole:—

The Old and New Covenants Compared and Contrasted.

(e, Heb. ix. 15-23.)

(Introversion and Simple Alternation.)

e 1 ix. 15. The Old Covenant related only to "the promise of the eternal inheritance."

m | 16. Death necessary for its making.

n | 17. Reason for this necessity.

m | 18. Blood necessary for its consecration.² n 19 23-. Reason for this necessity.

l -23. The New Covenant related to "the heavenly things themselves."

It is impossible to miss the great subject of these verses. It forbids us to ignore its importance, which is so essential to the whole argument.

To arbitrarily change this subject is to entirely miss its scope, and to be driven to force a meaning into the words and expressions which are quite foreign to their Biblical usage. (d) "Absent from the Body."—2 Cor. v. will furnish us with another illustration of the importance of the Structure in determining the Scope. And we have seen, under Canon I., the necessity of the Scope to give us the meaning of the word, and to show us how indispensable it is for a right understanding of the whole. The Structure will show us how much we lose by the break between the fourth and fifth chapters of the second Epistle to the Corinthians. Chapter v. commences as though it began an entirely fresh subject, whereas it begins with the word "FOR," which shows that it is the conclusion of what had been begun towards the end of ch. iv. That subject is Resurrection as our blessed hope in view of the perishing of our outward man day by day. As a comforting conclusion it is added, "FOR we know that if ¹ So the Greek, which has the article.

² Greek, ἐγκαινῶ (enkainizō), to dedicate (see ch. x. 20).

11. SCOPE OF PASSAGE FROM ITS STRUCTURE our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens." This is one of the "things unseen," and which are "eternal"; at which, and for which, we are to "look." Where the real literary and logical breaks occur can be discovered only from the Structure.

As a matter of fact, 2 Cor. v. forms part of a member which runs from 2 Cor. iii. 1—vi. 10; but we must not make such an arbitrary statement without producing the evidence, so that others may judge for themselves as to its accuracy. To prove this we must first give

The Structure of 2 Cor. as a whole.

A | i. 1, 2. Salutation.

B a | i. 3—11. Thanksgiving.

b | i. 12. Paul's Ministry.

C | i. 13—ii. 13. Epistolary.

B a | ii. 14—17. Thanksgiving.

b iii. 1—vi. 10. Paul's Ministry.

C | vi. 11—xiii. 10. Epistolary.

A | xiii. 11—14. Salutations.

Without going into the exquisite beauties of C and C,¹ we note that the small portion in which the expression "Absent from the body" occurs is the member marked b (ch. iii. 1—vi. 10). We must dissect and expand this member, which will be seen to be as follows: The Character of Paul's Ministry.

(b, 2 Cor. iii. 1—vi. 10.)

b | c | iii. 1—3. Commendation (Positive).

d | iii. 4, 5. Trust in God. God's Sufficiency.

e | iii. 6—18. The Ministry of the New Covenant.

f | iv. 1—v. 11. Support under Afflictions.

c | v. 12, 13. Commendation (Negative).

d | v. 14—18. Love of Christ. All of God.

e | v. 18—vi. 2. The Ministry of Reconciliation.

f | vi. 3—10. Approval under Afflictions.

¹ Which may be seen in Figures of Speech, p. 388, and The Church Epistles, p. 100.

² For the Structure of this member see The Giver and His Gifts, pp. 138—140.