H.J. Vine
Henry James Vine (1857 - 1930). English Bible teacher, author, and Plymouth Brethren leader born in London. Converted in his youth, he joined the Brethren assembly at Fore Street, Exeter, and was mentored by figures like George Müller. A self-educated scholar of Greek and Hebrew, he began preaching in the 1870s, traveling across England, Scotland, and Ireland to teach at conferences and assemblies. Vine authored numerous articles and books, including The Work of Christ and contributions to The Witness magazine, emphasizing dispensationalism and Christ’s preeminence. Known for his gentle demeanor and expository clarity, he influenced thousands within the Brethren movement. Married with children, he lived modestly, often supporting missions. In later years, he focused on writing from Bournemouth, where his home became a hub for Bible study. His teachings, preserved in Brethren archives, remain influential among conservative evangelicals. Vine’s emphasis on scriptural precision and humility shaped a generation of Bible students.
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H.J. Vine preaches about the parallel between the first man, Adam, and Joseph in the book of Genesis, both experiencing rejection, suffering, and ultimately rising to honor and exaltation. He draws a comparison to Christ as the true Joseph, rejected and crucified, but raised from the dead to become the Lord and Savior, settling His people in the true promised land. Christ is portrayed as the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, with pre-eminence in all things, offering life and power through the Holy Spirit.
Genesis: The Beginning and End
The first man, Adam, appears at the beginning. He sinned, and was shut out from Paradise and the tree of life. At the end of Genesis another is raised up; Joseph is divinely marked out for supremacy; and, through rejection, defamation, suffering, imprisonment and faithfulness, he rises to be lord of all Egypt, and the saviour in time of famine. From humiliation he rose to honour and exaltation, securing salvation for others, and special blessing for his own people in the chosen land of Goshen. The new beginning is found in Christ, the true Joseph, who was rejected: and crucified, but being actually raised from the tomb—from among the dead—He is the Lord of all, the Saviour of sinners, the Messiah of Israel (who will settle them in the true Goshen), and the Head of the Assembly. “Who is the BEGINNING, the Firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:15), that in all things the pre-eminence might be His. He is “the First and the Last, who became dead, and lived” (Rev. 2:8). The last Adam—not the second, for there is not another to follow—is found also in the risen Lord, as it says, “THE LAST ADAM a quickening Spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45). It was after He had put away the sinner’s sins—after having died for us—after He had left the grave—after He had spoken peace to His own—He breathed on them, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). He gave the Spirit as life then, and as power later (Acts 1:8; 2:4), when He had ascended on high. All the inspired Volume points to Christ, He is the language of God to men—“THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA.” Before Him none can be discovered, neither is there any to come after Him, for He is “THE BEGINNING AND THE END” (Rev. 21:6).
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Henry James Vine (1857 - 1930). English Bible teacher, author, and Plymouth Brethren leader born in London. Converted in his youth, he joined the Brethren assembly at Fore Street, Exeter, and was mentored by figures like George Müller. A self-educated scholar of Greek and Hebrew, he began preaching in the 1870s, traveling across England, Scotland, and Ireland to teach at conferences and assemblies. Vine authored numerous articles and books, including The Work of Christ and contributions to The Witness magazine, emphasizing dispensationalism and Christ’s preeminence. Known for his gentle demeanor and expository clarity, he influenced thousands within the Brethren movement. Married with children, he lived modestly, often supporting missions. In later years, he focused on writing from Bournemouth, where his home became a hub for Bible study. His teachings, preserved in Brethren archives, remain influential among conservative evangelicals. Vine’s emphasis on scriptural precision and humility shaped a generation of Bible students.