Douthitt's Answer To Brother Porter
What Ben M. Bogard did to Brother Porter, I do not know; but he evidently made a deep impression on him. Why should Brother Porter think when he sees something with which he does not agree that Ben Bogard has risen from the dead?
I certainly have had my full share of space in the Gospel Guardian on this "husband of one wife" discussion, and I do not want to presume on Brother Tant's generosity by making long replies to these brethren who differ with me. Therefore, I have suggested to Brother Tant that he publish as many of these articles written by brethren on the other side of the issue as he wishes to publish without any further word from me at all. But I do want to say just a word about Brother Porter's article and I promise to make it short, and then remain quiet while others "get their say," until something new is presented.
A part of his article is in reply to Herbert Winkler's piece which appeared in the Guardian a few weeks ago. I am sure Brother Winkler is able to take care of himself.
The only way that Brother Porter and I have of knowing the meaning of "mias gunaikos andra" (husband of one wife) as used in 1 Tim. 3:2,12 and Titus 1:6 is by the definition of the expression as given by Greek scholars. When Brother Porter takes a look at what the scholars, in the church and out of it, have said about the meaning of these Greek terms as used in the three verses in First Timothy and Titus, I think his article will be a source of embarrassment to him.
Since he calls his piece "Unmarried Husbands," I suggest that he now write an article on "Four Cornered Globes" and make his embarrassment complete.
"As absurd as the idea" of a four cornered globe may seem to Brother Porter, I am sure that much of the absurdity will vanish if he would only learn the meaning of "four corners of the earth" as the terms are used in Isaiah 11:12. In like manner, "as absurd as the idea" of "unmarried husbands" may seem, I feel sure that much of the absurdity will vanish when Brother Porter learns the meaning of "mias gunaikos andra" as used in the passages in First Timothy and Titus. And I think he will learn it as soon as he regains his equilibrium which apparently was so thrown out of gear by Ben Bogard.
Please, please, Brother Porter, REMEMBER: Ben Bogard is dead and will remain so till the resurrection of the just and the unjust!
I do not think there is any other point in Brother Porter's article or in any of the other articles in the Guardian which has not already been considered in previous issues.