BIRTHRIGHT 63

that the one that succeeds has been better. Consequently we may translate Philippians 1:10, `approve things that are

excellent' as the A.V. or `try the things that differ' as indicated in the margin. This therefore is an encouragement to

the reader, an incentive `to go on'. If the calling announced in the gospels is blessed, that which we find in the

epistles is more so.

And if the calling in the early epistles of Paul reveals the wondrous association of the believer with the

Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of Christ, the Prison Epistles take us higher, until the believer is not only

`quickened' and `raised together' but `seated together' in heavenly places. It is good, therefore, to present this fact

to any newcomer to Dispensational Truth, so that timidity or fear of losing something already held, shall not rob

them of the better things that still await the faith of God's elect.

BIRTHRIGHT. Much that is implied by the word `birthright' will be found in the article entitled ADOPTION (p. 40),

but as the word birthright has a place in the unfolding of the message of Hebrews, some attention must be given to it

here. The Greek word translated `birthright' in Hebrews 12:16 is prototokia, and the Greek word translated

`firstborn' in Hebrews 12:23 is prototokos, and these two words are the foci of the structure of Hebrews 12:15-25,

which we here set out.

a Looking diligently.

A 12:15.

b Lest any man fall back.

The birthright bartered (Prototokia).

B 12:16,17.

C 12:18-21.

Ye are not come. SINAI.

But ye are come. SION.

The birthright enjoyed (Prototokos).

b Lest ye refuse.

The earlier part of Hebrews 12, namely verses 5-14 deals with sons, and of what all sons are partakers. The

second part of Hebrews 12, namely verses 15-25 deals with firstborn sons and with the special blessings to which

the firstborn may attain. Here comes the example of Esau. Esau for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. The

Philippians on higher ground but in a parallel case were warned about those whose `god is their belly' in the same

chapter that speaks of pressing on to the prize of the high calling (Phil. 3).

Mount Sion is first mentioned in Scripture in 2 Samuel 5:7. It was a stronghold, and held out against the people

of Israel, even though Jerusalem itself had fallen to them. When David however was crowned king over all Israel,

Joab as an overcomer, effected an entry into Sion and it became the city of David. Those who press on, as the

Hebrews were exhorted to, those who run as the Philippians were exhorted to, they find their place in the heavenly

Sion. Those who do not sell their birthright for a few moments of ease in this life, find their inheritance among the

church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven. (For fuller and further light on this aspect of truth, see PRIZE3,

PERFECT3, PHILIPPIANS3 and HEBREWS2).

BLESSING. The character of a dispensation may be gathered by considering its sphere, whether earth, heaven, or far

above all, the company blessed, whether a nation, a kingdom or a church, and the character of a dispensation can

also be estimated by the kind of blessings that belong to it. We can assess fairly accurately the calling of Israel as

we read Deuteronomy 28.

`Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body,

and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store' (Deut. 28:3-5).