With gratitude to God we present to you another Letters Edition of Sword and Shield. Thank you to all of our correspondents, whose questions, comments, criticisms, observations, arguments, accusations, and advice have given us opportunity to consider and address these important matters. As editors and respondents, we have profited from your correspondence, and we pray that the readership will likewise profit. All of the letters that we print are intended by their writers for publication.

We invite our readers to continue sending in your letters and emails for publication in Sword and Shield. The doctrines and issues being addressed are of utmost importance and are worthy of lively discussion among believers. We have heard from many that they immensely enjoyed the last Letters Edition because they liked reading what their fellow believers were thinking. As editors, we agree, and we look forward to more letters by which we can sharpen each other in God’s word.

A few notes about our responses. First, like last time, we judged that not every letter needs a response. Some letters are not asking for anything and are meant to speak for themselves. Second, the editors divided up among ourselves the letters that were addressed to the editor-in-chief. If a letter specifically addressed a particular writer’s article, that writer responded. For the rest, we shared the opportunity to respond. Third, we ran out of space to publish all of the letters in this special edition. There is one letter that will be published in the February issue of Sword and Shield.

Now, dear readers, read on. And write on!

May God speed the truths written herein to your heart, and the next issue into your hands.