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borne at the proper time ['due time'
in the King James Version]. "
Most commentators express the
opinion that this phrase fits in with
Paul's feeling, expressed else–
where, that Christ 's lite and death
occurred at the proper time in world
history as determined by God (see
Titus 1:3; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:1 O; Rom.
5:6). Paul may also have had in
mind the fulfillment of certain
prophecies in the Old Testament
which needed fulfillment at a spe-
. cific point in history. Although the
Greek of this verse is somewhat dif–
ficult (the word translated "time" is
actually in the plural), the identical
express1on occurs in
1
Timothy 6:15
where the translation ' 'at the proper
time" is probable.
Q
"What do God and the Bible
have to say about labor
uníons?"
George E. ,
Baltimore, Maryland
A
These organizations are not
mentioned in Scripture, since
they are a rather recent historical
development in the industrialized
world. The Bible does, however,
have much to say about how em–
ployers and employees should treat
each other (see
1
Tim. 6:1-2; Col.
3:22 - 24 ; Eph . 6:5 - 9 ; Lev .
25:43, 46, 53). Perhaps the ques–
tion in your mind is, " Should a
Christian join a labor union?"
Sometimes the only way a person
can work in a certain field is to join
such a union. We have to remem–
ber that this is not God's world (see
Rev. 12:9). Yet Christians have to
function in this world in arder to gel
the gospel out and to sustain their
own livelihood.
Romans 13 bears on the subject.
" Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that
be are ordained of God.. . . For this
cause pay ye tribute also.. . . Ren-
der therefore to all their dues: trib–
ute to whom tribute is due; custom
to whom custom; fear to whom fear;
honour to whom honour" (verses
1,
6-7). Based on these principies
we may conclude that it would not
be wrong for a Christian to belong
The
PLAIN TRUTH June 1977
toa labor union. Unions are at least
a
de tacto
part of Western eco–
nomic systems and are usually
sanctioned by governments. Paul
recognized that Christians must
work within " the system" at times
(never disobeying a specific spiri–
tual law, of course) in arder to be
able to earn a living or tunction ef–
fectively within the community.
Q
" 1read your booklet 'The Plain
Truth About Christmas, · and
1
have a question : On page
12
it states
that the Christmas t ree originated in
Babylon, and on page
17
it says that
the tree oríginated in Egypt. Whích is
cor rect?"
Doris
L.,
Massapequa, New York
A
Page 12 mentions that the
" real origin" of the Christmas
tree was the evergreen that sprang
up
o~t
of a dead tree stump, sym–
bollzmg the resurrection of the
dead Nimrod, while page
17
quotes
Frederick J. Haskins as stating that
" the use of Christmas wreaths is
believed by authorities to be trace–
able to the pagan customs of deco–
rating buildings and places of
worship at the feast which took
place at the same time as Christ–
mas. The Christmas tree is from
Egypt, and its origin dates from a
period long anterior to the Christian
era."
Although Haskins states rather
dogmatically that the Christmas tree
originated in Egypt, this custom,
like many elements of ancient reli–
gion, may have been handed down
through severa! c ivilizations in vari–
ously modified forms. Since Baby–
Ion predates Egypt , it would
probably be safe to assume that
this particular custom either devel–
oped independently in both cul–
tures or was passed down to the
Egyptians from Babylon.
Q ·'
Recently
1
read an article
which gave examples of hyper–
bole in the Bible: e.g., Paul remark–
ing that he had preached to virtually
everyone in Asia. Also, the remark
about man becoming heir to 'all
things' in Hebrews 2.
Ot
course
1
can
understand the emotional context in
which Paul wrote, and
1
suppose
every man is entitled to his context.
But hyperbole in any case does not
upon its encounter, foster an
attitud~
ot
trembling at the Word
ot
God. rt
fo~ters.
an attitude of taking every–
thmg w1th a grain
ot
salt."
Jack
R. ,
Westlake Village, California
A
The Bible is composed of
many books written at difter–
ent times to widely diverse au–
diences in many different literary
s~yles.
Hyperbole is one literary de–
VICe used at times by some of the
authors of Scripture to make vari–
ous
poi~t.s
to those to whom they
were wntmg. Their readers under–
stood.
~hat ~hat
they were saying
was 1d1omat1c, just as we under–
stand when people use such ex–
pressions in our day. We do not
take them literally or accuse them
of lying.
lf
we try to interpret certain pas–
sages in the Bible too literalistically,
not taking into account the idiosyn–
crasles of each original language,
we may lose sight of the intended
meaning. Remember that hyperbole
is deliberate overstatement in arder
to get a point across.
You stated that hyperbole " fos–
ters an attitude of taking everything
with a grain of salt. " Would you
rather God had inspired the Bible to
be written without any skill or clev–
erness, using no literary devices
such as personification, simile,
metaphor, and hyperbole? Would
you rather He had inspired His
Word without untranslatable humor
~Philemon
10-11 , RSV) or poetic
1magery?
One way around this difficulty is
to consult in up-to-date com–
mentaries the opinions of expert
biblical scholars familiar with the
original languages. Such reference
works. will usually accurately in–
?icate which texts consist of poetry,
1magery, hyperbole, and so forth .
When figures of speech are in–
dicated, one should be careful
about using such texts as primary
" proofs" for various doctrines or
beliefs. For more information and
helpful guidelines on how to under–
stand and rightly apply God's Word
write for the free booklet entitled
How To Study the Bible.
o
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