Easy Summaries of John Nelson Darby on God’s Grace, the Rapture, Dispensations, the true Church etc.
Men can live 969 years like Methuselah,
Objection: the longevity of the patriarchs is unrealistic.
Answer: It is a question of the sovereign power of God, it is absurd to argue otherwise. Men can live 969 years like Methuselah, or 500, or 200 or 70. But the reduction coincides with idolatry and the worship of man.
Scripture uses language that is unique to this event – “all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened”. (
Objection: Where did the waters of the flood come from?
Answer: It is argued that the water in the deluge came from the clouds, and perhaps from the sea. These are, of course, the same – one cycle. Scripture uses language that is unique to this event – “all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened”. (Gen 7:11) The passage speaks neither of clouds nor sea. It speaks of the fountains of the great deep being broken up, and the windows of heaven opened. It is never said the water drained back into the sea, but that “the waters returned from off the earth continually.” (Gen 8:3) . It also ways that the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. Call that a “miracle” or what you will; certainly some very overwhelming outbreak of waters came from an extraordinary source. According to the narrative of creation in Genesis 1, what had already been created was one vast mass of waters, called “the deep.” It says, “And darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Gen 1:2) The unknown mass of waters which engulfed the earth is not stated, or the what the waters were that were above the firmament or expanse. The waters of the deluge must have come from either above or below the earth, not from on it. The ark was big enough. A vessel of more than 42,000 tons, being 450 feet long, 75 broad, and 45 high (135x23x14m) could easily have received the animals that did not live in water. Note by Sosthenes At JND’s time there were many things he could not have known.
The prophetess Deborah, in an inspired psalm, pronounces Jael to be blessed above women, and glorifies her act by an elaborate description of its atrocities.
(Click on link above for original)
Objection: The prophetess Deborah, in an inspired psalm, pronounces Jael to be blessed above women, and glorifies her act by an elaborate description of its atrocities.
Answer: Scripture is inspired by God. God gives His mind on any particular subject to anyone spiritually capable of understanding it.
However, just because scripture provides a record of peoples’ words, that does not mean that what they said was inspired. We have Satan’s words, wicked men’s words, and human accounts of various facts, recorded by inspiration, but not themselves inspired. Scripture gives us a picture of what man, and particularly Israel, is. It does it, not just by dogmatic statements, but by giving us a historical development of what man has does and felt in various circumstances. If the Bible had merely given us God’s judgment, we never should have had the testimony to our consciences that we have. Scripture affords us man’s actual history under the various dispensations of God. We get an inspired testimony of what God’s mind is, adapted in grace to our consciences. A gracious father speaks to his child according to what suits the child, yet always in a way worthy of himself. That is how God has dealt with Israel and all men. How else could He have done so?
In the Old Testament we have a perfect, divinely-given picture of man, in various relationships with a gracious God. His whole condition is brought out, so that by a divinely given history, we might know ourselves, and at the same time appreciate the whole course of God’s dealings with man. Ultimately, in perfection God Himself is manifested in Christ in supreme grace. Man and God get into a relationship according to the security of His nature, and the perfectness of His love. When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Rom. 5:6).
We should not have the knowledge either of man or God, and His wondrous, perfect and patient ways, if we had not seen men presented at exactly as they were. A statement of morality by God would, no doubt, have shown what man ought to be. We have that in the law. But that would not have shown us what man is.
People who were used to communicate things, such as Deborah, were pious and animated in their hearts by God’s Spirit. In their dispensations, they were just not as instructed, as we have been in ours.
Deborah’s song is not a communication of God’s thoughts, but of Deborah’s feelings. Doubtless, her heart was moved by the Spirit in thankfulness for the deliverance of God’s beloved people, but there is no sign of its being a communication from God to His people. It was consistent with the light she possessed, and coloured by the general condition of the people. Like Hannah, she appreciates God Himself known in mercy to His people. The song does not rise above the measure of Israel’s blessing. Things were to be extended under David, Solomon and the prophets.
The Old Testament is a spiritual instruction for us, so that we can know God, and His perfect ways, more fully. I may know some scientific facts, and rely on these but I have the perfection of Christ to judge by. To use the Word rightly depends on my spiritual progress and moral state. This is exactly as it ought to be.
We are tempted to judge things from the standpoint of a clearer revelation. I may pass a moral judgment on many things in the Old Testament, because God has given me the true light, and the darkness is now passed. He who is light, has given me the light to judge these things. Christ has given the perfect key by which to judge of it all.
Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac is not presented as a rule of morality nor of conduct in any way, but as a special case in which Abraham’s faith was put to the test. There is no kind of analogy with “those who sacrificed their children to Moloch.”* Jer. 32:35. In their horrid barbarity, they sought to assuage their consciences to placate their vengeful god.
Objection: Abraham’s preparedness to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22, makes him no different from idolaters of the worst kind – practicing human sacrifice.
Answer: Abraham’s sacrificial act was a rule of morality nor of conduct in any way, but as a special case in which God put Abraham’s faith to the test. There is no kind of analogy with “those who sacrificed their children to Moloch.”* Jer. 32:35. In their horrid barbarity, they sought to assuage their consciences to placate their vengeful god.
In Abraham’s case it was different. God had placed the promises in Isaac. In Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, he was now tested, to show that he had such confidence in God, that he would give up all the promises he possessed and obey God implicitly, whatever the cost. When this was proved, God would not suffer Isaac to be touched.
According to Hebrews 11:8-12 Abraham believed that God would somehow raise up Isaac again, in order to accomplish His promises.
The Slaughter of the Innocents by Herod
The Slaughter of the InnocentsThis event is not recorded by Jewish historian, Josephus.
It is hardly likely that a Jewish infidel historian should have recorded a particular act of local cruelty, which would have been the strongest testimony possible that Jesus was the Messiah. Indeed the omission of one local cruelty in a village is nothing extraordinary. The killing a few children was nothing to the hard-heartedness of Josephus and Herod, if there was no particular reason. If there was, it was the last thing Josephus would mention.
Summary by Sosthenes of J.N. Darby’s original article. For the source please click here.
Going on its belly and eating dust (Genesis 3:15) shows the complete humiliation of the serpent. In its fullest extent it is a symbol of death. The whole thing is scorned but it gives the source, explanation and judgment of what has characterised the human race, everywhere and at all time.
The Sentence on the Serpent: Serpent WorshipObjection: The sentence of the serpent is just a fable
Answer: Going on its belly and eating dust (Genesis 3:15) shows the complete humiliation of the serpent. In its fullest extent it is a symbol of death. The whole thing is scorned but it gives the source, explanation and judgment of what has characterised the human race, everywhere and at all time.
Man has worshipped the serpent, perhaps more than anything else, with the possible exception of the Sun in Greece and Rome. Ophiolatry, or serpent worship, is found in China, Egypt, Babylon, England (Stonehenge), Ireland, France, North and South America, Russia, Scandinavia, India and Africa. People kept serpents as household gods, wore ornaments as talismans, and tattooed images of the serpent and the sun on their skin. It is often portrayed erect, being fed with sweet cakes, with a naked woman as priestess in attendance. The Hivites who were driven out of Palestine by Joshua were serpent worshippers. Scripture presents that old serpent as the one who elevated himself as god of all the world. Yet the serpent is a venomous prostrate reptile. So when we see the whole world of these traditions of the serpent, of the worship of the serpent (erect), a sober mind must deduce the immense moral importance of this phenomenon, as exposing, the terrible and real secret of it all – the ruined condition of rebellious and disobedient man. Scripture has not invented these facts.
Also, the notion of gaining wisdom from serpents is universal. Satan seized upon the idea of God in men’s minds, and, where possible has connected man’s obscure traditions with himself. The sun is seen as the benefactor; the serpent the one giving intelligence, and both became associated with the idea of the unity of deity and the universe. Moreover, in Egypt above the serpent-worshipping temple of Isis there were the words ‘I am all that hath been, and is, and shall be; and my veil no mortal hath ever removed’. All wisdom was purported to be there.
Sometimes the worship of the sun drove out serpent worship, yet it was always remained connected with it. Apollo (the sun), established his worship at Delphi by slaying Typhon, an immense serpent, who was also said to have been cast down from heaven by Jupiter. He then gave oracles in his place, Delphi. Scandinavian mythology is similar, the great serpent being Loke. Hercules, Thor and Krishna kill serpents. (or dragons).
It would appear that idolatry came in after the flood. There is a vague tradition of a reign of bliss under Saturn, his three sons, Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto, becoming the supreme gods of heaven, earth, and sea. In some way these correspond to Shem, Ham and Japeth. They carried a statue about in a kind of ship. Indeed they used the same word for ‘temple’ and ‘ship’.
There is the pain of childbirth, a pain borne by the woman, the man being exempt. But faith can lay hold of the real meaning of the statement that the woman’s seed will crush the head of the serpent.
Summary by Sosthenes of J.N. Darby’s original article. For the source please click here.
By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
Objection: The thought of the fall of man, or original sin, is totally irrational. Evolution shows that people die, just like the animals. And there is good in everybody.
Answer: Paul wrote, “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom. 5:12).
We are taught, and accept by faith, that when man was created, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, a thing never said of animals. Death was to be the result of failure to obey God’s word. Beasts are described as perishing beings — “The beasts that perish.” (Ps. 49:20) Peter says, “Natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.” (2 Peter 2:12).
Darby makes an interesting observation: God does not answer our curiosity as to the condition of the animals prior to the fall or man. We are told that the creature has got into misery and ruin by our fall, and will not be restored till we are manifested in glory; and this is true even of our bodies. This is morally important for us to know, so that we might be humbled by the way in which man has dragged the animal creation with him. Things will be restored; our glory would be the occasion of the restoration of blessing for all creation. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Rom. 8:22
hardy deniers of the flood simply expose their desire to raise objections for their own sakes.
Objection: Noah’s ark is a myth
Answer: Accounts of the deluge and the issue of the human race from one family are not limited to the Bible. Ancient eastern writers confirm the account of Moses even to the sending forth of the birds.
Traditional mythology of Egypt, Greece, and all the neighbouring countries preserve the various facts and words connected with the flood. A sacred ship is carried in procession in many places, and the word ‘ark’ is used for a place of protection (Moses, the Ark of the Covenant). Eight persons were saved and eight has become a ‘lucky’ number in the Middle and Far East.
The East preserves the general historical account that the various colonies of the human race stemmed from Noah. In Greece and elsewhere history starts with the first king of the appropriate colony, but associated with a ship.
[The Chinese Miao Legend states that a single human couple escaped the deluge in a wooden drum, and then gave birth to the first members of post flood humanity – Sosthenes from RL Hales http://creationism.org/csshs/v06n2p04.htm]
After the deluge the population of the earth must have increased rapidly, indeed amazingly fast, in proportion to the space over which the population spread.
So hardy deniers of the flood simply expose their desire to raise objections for their own sakes.
Levi had also the name of Matthew, as Saul had that of Paul, Simon that of Peter.
Names of the Apostles |
 Different names in different listsSome had two names, very common among the Jews. Levi had also the name of Matthew, as Saul had that of Paul, Simon that of Peter. Thaddaeus, Lebbaeus and Judas (not Iscariot) would appear to be the same person. |
Summary by Sosthenes of J.N. Darby’s original article. For the source please click here.
Genealogy in Matthew
14 names instead of 18, and in saying that there were only fourteen generations.
Different genealogy in Luke
Was Jesus the biological son of Joseph?
Inconsistency in names e.g. Ahaziah and Uzziah
14 names instead of 18, and in saying that there were only fourteen generations.
Matthew has omitted three kings, but this does not prove he made a mistake in doing so. The point he is showing is Christ’s legal connection with the throne of David. The term “begat” is employed in Hebrew for a descendant. Matthew left out three kings, the children of an apostate woman, recommencing with him in whose reign the prophecies of Messiah dawned brightly on Israel, and he has counted his genealogies correctly.
Inconsistency in names e.g. Ahaziah and Uzziah
Little problem when looking at the Hebrew and its transliteration into Greek.
Was Jesus the biological son of Joseph?
The legal descent is evident. Matthew does not for a moment leave a cloud on the fact that Jesus was not Joseph’s son. He says, “The husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” He is not giving the natural descent, and Christ’s miraculous birth follows.
Different genealogy in Luke
Luke gives that of Mary. If Mary had no brother and was the daughter of Eli, the Lord was descended from Eli; and Joseph would be called τοῦ Ηλὶ (tou Eli) as heir and representative of Eli.
Summary by Sosthenes of J.N. Darby’s original article. For the source please click here.