Gainsayers In Apostolic Days

When people talk or think about fornication, they mostly only think about the physical act and forget that there is also a spiritual fornication.
About the spiritual fornication we do like to present an old article from the Australian Bible Students, from the previous century:

Already in the Apostles’ Day, some bad arisen in the Church to begin the age-long fulfilment of the prophetic “sign” of “the gainsaying of Korah“; on account of whom it was needful for Jude to write to the Christians and exhort them that they contend earnestly “for he faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Local Market Place, Norwich, Gentleman’s Walk because of the French Market. People concerned about the things of the world which they can buy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These “ungodly sinners” are vigorously described in Jude’s Epistle and in 2 Peter 2, much of the language being almost identical. The ungodly ones, “crept in unawares,” “with feigned words.” They denied “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4, R.V. I “These dreamers speak evil of dignities.” (Jude 8.) And to show that not subordinate “dignities” are here meant, but that the Highest over the Church — even our Lord Jesus Christ — is here particularly designated, we are told that these “murmurers, complainers, “ungodly sinners,” shall be convicted of all their hard speeches, which they, with “great swelling words,” “have spoken Against Him.”—Jude 15.

Primitive Christians had been forewarned of this Antichrist disposition that was to manifest itself among them.

“Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18 ASV)

The spiritual cancer was already eating its way (2 Timothy 2: 17), and it made the greater progress because some were weak and sickly, through neglect of their spiritual health. — 1 Cor. 11: 30-32.

“and their word will {1} eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; {1) Or [spread]}” (2 Timothy 2:17 ASV)

“30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31 But if we {1} discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. {1) Gr [discriminated]} 32 But {1} when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. {1) Or [when we are judged of the Lord, we are chastened]}” (1 Corinthians 11:30-32 ASV)

In post-apostolic times, the disease made great strides, and after some centuries it shaped up as the Papacy, whose “great swelling words” were matters of prophetic prediction and have become matters of historic fulfilment. All of these have spoken “hard speech-“against “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ,” and in various ways they have spoken evil of His dignity.

Some of them have not hesitated to go in the evil way of Cain; many of them have run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, seducing God’s people into spiritual “fornication” (mixing of Church and world), as the ancient Balaam literally led astray fleshly Israel; some have particularly imitated the ways of Korah. But all of “these dreamers” have been “raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame,” yet they have been so lacking in spiritual perception that they have one and all gloried in their shame.

-From the Biblestudents magazine “The New Covenant Advocate” August, 1910

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Preceding articles:

Hebraic Roots Bible 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 – Flee fornication and be joined to our Master

Nazarene Commentary 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 – Flee from Immorality

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Read also:

No time for immorality

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