Report On Bible Class Discussion
The fallacy of the "no Bible class theory" was brought to light recently in a discussion between brother Dana Halstead of Cleveland, Texas, defending the classes and brother Charles B. Thomas of Liberty, Kentucky, opposing. The discussion took place in Cleveland, Texas, on July 9th and 10th. Throughout the discussion several points began to appear outstanding as to the causes of brother Thomas' misunderstanding on this subject.
How Does God Authorize?
Most Bible students recognize the three ways to obtain authority in God's word, i.e. (1) direct command or precept, (2) approved example, or (3) necessary inference. However, brother Thomas failed to recognize that these three ways may either be general or specific. He fails to admit (only on this point) that a general command entails anything necessary to carrying out that command. The advocates of institutions of today make their mistake at the other extreme, i.e. failure to recognize that specific commands limit actions. Brother Thomas could easily understand that the command to sing, Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16, authorized singing schools and anything that would aid us in our singing, such as song books, singing parts, etc. But he could not see the direct parallel to the general commands to teach which also authorize anything expedient to its fulfillment.
Thomas, A Prophet?
After being pressed with the fact that 1 Corinthians 14 was special commands to a special situation involving special persons and that it was not applicable to us today, Thomas then informed the audience that PART of 1 Corinthian 14 was not applicable and PART is. Brother Thomas offered no scripture to prove this, therefore, it follows that ONLY THOMAS understands which is and which isn't.
"1 Corinthians 14 & 1 Tim. 2:11-12 Parallel," Says Thomas Thomas completely disregarded Dana's clearly dinned argument that the "silence" in 1 Corinthians 14:34 and the "silence" in 1 Timothy 2:11 (KJV) are translated from TWO DIFFERENT GREEK WORDS having TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS. 1 Corinthians 14:34 literally means to hold your peace, to muzzle, to be silent; but in 1 Timothy 2:11, the word is comparable to quietness, not a complete silence, but a peaceful attitude or state. 1 Corinthians 14:34 had to do with the wives of prophets and tongue speakers and is not applicable to us today, whereas 1 Timothy 2:11-19 is APPLICABLE TO ALL WOMEN everywhere and any place. To parallel these two passages puts yourself in the market place without the coin of the realm when it comes to such passages as 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-17, Titus 2:3-5, and 1 Peter 3:15 which show that women have a place in the body of Christ and are commanded to teach but at the same time not to usurp authority of man. Brother Thomas claims that the explanation that Dana gave of 1 Timothy 2:11-12 would put women in the pulpit, although Dana repeatedly stated that the elders cannot command anyone to do anything that is unauthorized, such as a woman in an officious position which is wrong with or without the elder's permission.
Perverted Explanation Of 1 Timothy 2:11-12
Brother Thomas Violated All Rules Of Plain Old English, And Rules Of Hermeneutics And Rules Of Common Horse-Sense On His Interpretation Of 1 Timothy 2:11-12. On Verse 12, Thomas Attempts To Read In Things That Are Not Contained In The Verse. Brother Thomas Said He Was Going To Teach Dana The Eight Parts Of Speech Because He Didn't Know What A Preposition Was, Indicating That The "Nor" In Verse Twelve Was A Preposition. Is There Any Seventh Or Eighth Grade English Student Anywhere That Understands The "Nor" In Verse 12 To Be A Preposition? Anyone Who Knows Anything About English Understands The "Nor" In This Passage To Be A Conjunction Joining Two Groups Of Words Of Equal Rank.
Results Of The Discussion
Brother Thomas announced both nights that he would preach at Montague the following night. It is reported that there was no one present to hear him, although all five of his brethren were present both nights of the discussion. After the discussion, brother Thomas said he would never debate Dana again. Another result of the discussion is that the "no Bible class church" at Cleveland has folded!
— 621 Herman Street, Humble, Texas