Article June 1, 1912 Issue

"AGREE WITH THINE ADVERSARY QUICKLY"

REV. JAMES J. ROME.

In order to follow the injunction of Jesus, "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him," a somewhat clear comprehension of its meaning is requisite, otherwise there may result much error and confusion. In order to grasp the import of these words it is well, first, to notice the context. Jesus had been talking about the action that should be taken with regard to a brother with whom there might have been some altercation. Then, in bringing our "gift to the altar," in other words, turning the thought toward spiritual things, and remembering our heat of temper as well as speech, we should hasten to correct our mistake and seek to be reconciled to the offended one, thus showing our true love for our brother before professing love for God. Then follows the passage referred to, and in considering it there are two questions which naturally present themselves: Who is the adversary? and, How shall I agree with him?

Our adversary is one who opposes us or to whom we are opposed. As stated in Science and Health (p. 580), an adversary is "one who opposes, denies, disputes." Whoever or whatever is inimical to my best interests, or obstructs and hinders my progress, or interferes with my well-bring, is an adversary. It may be worthy of notice here that my adversary is not necessarily my enemy, although my enemy must always be my adversary. I may not be at enmity with the one who is opposing me, but it is evident that my estimate of any person as an adversary is what makes him such to me. Hence, my adversary is that which I conceive of as opposing, hindering, or injuring. It is because I remember that my brother has something against me, that the step toward a reconciliation is required. I must have thought of him as an adversary, or I could not have the sense of his holding aught against me. If he is still ignorant of the ill I have done him, or of the reason I have for regarding him as an adversary, then it is in my consciousness alone. His ignorance does not change the fact, however, nor does it relieve me of the responsibility of being reconciled. This does not preclude the possibility of my adversary being at fault. That is, he may be acting under a wrong thought, and the question arises, How am I to agree with him without excusing the error or yielding apparent consent thereto?

Just here a misapprehension of the meaning of the term translated "agree" may cause some confusion. The word used does not mean, as might be supposed from the translation, to coincide with, or to submit, consent, or concede to, or countenance in any way that which I consider wrong or questionable. It is a noticeable fact that, according to Young's Bible Concordance, this is the only instance where the term used in the Greek is thus translated. This Greek word eunoio is a derivation from two other Greek words, eu, well, and nous, mind, and means well minded; hence the passage might read, "Be well minded toward thine adversary."

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June 1, 1912
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