Intro

This blog gains its name from the book Steele's Answers published in 1912. It began as an effort to blog through that book, posting each of the Questions and Answers in the book in the order in which they appeared. I started this on Dec. 10, 2011. I completed blogging from that book on July 11, 2015. Along the way, I began to also post snippets from Dr. Steele's other writings — and from some other holiness writers of his times. Since then, I have begun adding material from his Bible commentaries. I also re-blog many of the old posts.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Graven Images

QUESTION: Explain Ex. 20:4: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness," etc.

ANSWER: This does not forbid, as some think, sculpture and painting. The words "unto thee," taken in connection with the next prohibition of image worship, are sufficient proof that this is a prohibition of image making for idol worship only. This is clearly declared in Deut. 4:15-19, especially these words, "For ye saw no form in the day when Jehovah spake to you at Horeb." This authoritative exposition of this prohibition on the part of Moses himself demonstrates that it refers, not to pictures and statues in general, but only to symbolical representations of Jehovah. If the Arabs had properly noted this comment of Moses they could have indulged their artistic taste without straining their noddles to produce those monstrosities called Arabesques still visible on much of their wall paper.

— From Steele's Answers pp. 18, 19.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Genealogy of Mary

QUESTION: Why should we not have the genealogy of Mary instead of Joseph, who was not an ancestor of Jesus?

ANSWER: It was the practice of the Jews to exclude the names of women from their genealogical registers and to put the husband's name instead. Mary was the daughter of Heli and Joseph was his son-in-law in Luke's list of Mary's natural descent. Matthew gives her legal genealogy. Many difficulties in respect to names of persons and the number of generations arise from the fact that some men had more than one name, and the names of bad ancestors were dropped out of the list. See Methodist Quarterly Review, October, 1852.

— From Steele's Answers p. 17.