Seeking the Light

Galatians 3: 1 – 14 Faith or works of the law

Galatians 3: 1 – 14 Faith or works of the law

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain – if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham ‘believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.’

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because ‘the righteous will live by faith.’ The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

* * *

Let’s start with the easy bit. When it comes to the heart of this passage, Paul’s own words are perfectly straightforward: “did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?”

Paul’s experience was that it was obvious when believers received the Holy Spirit. They spoke in tongues, they prophesied and miracles of healing happened through them. This clearly happened with the Galatians because in verse 5 Paul writes, “…does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you have heard?’”

For Paul to write in this way, the answer must have been obvious; we receive the Holy Spirit by believing what we have heard.

And yet he feels the need to make his point even more firmly. Why would he do this? Here’s where we must use a little imagination.

The circumcision group must have cast doubt on the very argument that Paul uses. Perhaps they said something like, “Ah, yes, God worked miracles through you when you received the Holy Spirit, but he wants you to stop sinning as well. The law says you must be circumcised (or any other requirement of the law) and you must obey that.” This argument seems to be solidly based on Scripture, but Paul says, “No! That’s wrong! That completely undermines the good news. If you bind yourself by the law, you are making Jesus’ sacrifice worthless.”

To emphasise his argument, Paul points to the example of Abraham. “So also Abraham ‘believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” Abraham lived well before Moses; the law hadn’t been given – indeed, the nation of Israel didn’t exist. Abraham had a direct experience of God. In response he left his home and his extended family and became nomadic. He had further experiences of God, and showed his faith through his obedience to God’s direct instructions and it was this obedience based on faith that was “credited to him as righteousness.”

Paul argues that the Gentiles are in the same position as Abraham; they must respond directly to God’s Holy Spirit. Thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus, that is all they need to do.

He then continues by pointing out that, “The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’” The enormous (and essential) difference between obedience to the law and living by faith in Jesus is this: If you could be justified by following the law, you wouldn’t need any experience of God. You might never know him; you might even believe he doesn’t exist.

The very heart of Paul’s good news is this: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

I find this hard to understand. When he says ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole,’ Paul is quoting from the Old Testament. “If someone guilty of a capital offence is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21: 22 – 23)

This quotation seems to me to be about ritual purity, in this case the purity of the land in which the Israelites are to live. Yes, it does indeed say that “because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse,” but what exactly does this mean? I believe that Jesus died for me and was raised from the dead. I believe that the Holy Spirit is active in my life. But I don’t understand what Paul means when he writes that Jesus became a curse for us.

If anyone has any good ideas, please feel free to describe them in a comment on the post!

Finally, these arguments from scripture would have been typical of the ‘proofs’ that Paul used when bringing the good news to the Jews in the synagogue. They are very different from the beliefs he held before his conversion.

Paul’s personal experience of the work of the Holy Spirit has completely changed his interpretation of the Scriptures! Praise the Lord!

Prayer

Heavenly Father

You are great, you are good, you are our loving heavenly Father. Help us to understand what we need to in order to do your will and experience your love as fully as possible.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Galatians 2: 11 – 21 Paul opposes Cephas

Galatians 2: 11 – 21 Paul opposes Cephas

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, ‘You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to accept Jewish customs?

‘We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

‘But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a law-breaker.

‘For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!’

* * *

In these early years of the church – and let us not forget, this letter was written about 53 AD – the Christians who were originally Jewish and those who were originally Gentiles, formed separate factions within the church. In Acts 6:1, Luke refers to them as Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews. In Galatians, Paul refers to one faction among the Jews as ‘the circumcision group’. The circumcision group insisted that to become a Christian, a Gentile had to be circumcised. This group was so influential, that even Peter (Cephas) had withdrawn from eating with Gentiles. His example led others astray, including Barnabas who had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem on the occasion when Peter, James and John had agreed the gospel that Paul was preaching.

In today’s passage we see that Paul regards this as a matter of the highest importance. He publicly opposes Peter, calling him a hypocrite in that he lives like a Gentile and yet is forcing Gentiles to accept Jewish customs.

Why did it matter so much?

The gospel preached by Paul was that the only requirement to be justified in God’s sight was to believe in Jesus Christ. Justification was a free gift from God.

He tackles an argument that had perhaps been made by the circumcision group. He asks, rhetorically, “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin?” What he means by this is “If Jews don’t observe the law – especially circumcision – they’re making themselves part of the sinful Gentiles. Surely Christ doesn’t want them to become sinners?”

Paul’s answer to this is sweeping. “Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a law-breaker.” He is saying, in effect, that Jews are no less sinful than Gentiles. He affirms God in Jesus has destroyed the law and that the real sin would be to rebuild it, by making specific observances like circumcision mandatory.

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I find this paragraph difficult to understand. It seems to be a rather mystical expression of how Paul himself views his salvation. I think what he’s saying is that the life he used to live has gone; he has “died to the law”. Instead, Christ lives in him. Paul’s earthly life is now determined entirely by his faith in Jesus, who loved him and gave himself up to be crucified for him.

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

This conclusion is as powerful as Paul can make it. He’s saying that anyone who insists that circumcision is necessary for a Gentile Christian is relying on observance of the law, denying the grace of God and living as though Christ died for nothing!

Coming to the present day, are there other matters that we set up as obstacles to membership?

How about homosexuality? Gay marriage? Gender identity matters? Divorce?

How do we live a life of freedom from the requirements of the law while avoiding sin?

Huge questions.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Your plan for mankind is so vast and sweeping that we cannot possibly understand more than a tiny fraction, and that imperfectly. Please help us to be always aware of that; help us to die to the law so that we may live for you.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Galatians 2: 1 – 10 Paul accepted by the apostles

Galatians 2: 1 – 10 Paul accepted by the apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel may be preserved for you.

As for those who were held in high esteem – whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favouritism – they added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they recognised that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognised the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

* * *

Paul says that he went to Jerusalem in response to a revelation.

We don’t necessarily expect such specific direction from the Holy Spirit nowadays, but it still happens. It doesn’t need to be dramatic, but it can be very powerful. I’ve had the experience several times; it’s very distinctive, and it’s always validated by the outcome. For example, the Spirit once told to knock at the door of a house displaying Christian posters. When I’d recovered from the shock of being stopped in my tracks by the ‘still, small voice,’ I did as I was told. The family in the house insisted I ate dinner with them and then took me to a Pentecostal house group. I’d never experienced Pentecostal worship and this was a real eye-opener. It made me receptive for a subsequent Pentecostal renewal at a church that I attended years later.

Paul was used to such direction from God, so it’s not surprising that he travelled to Jerusalem in response to a revelation. And he had doubts in his mind about his ministry: “I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.” The doubts were probably more to do with how he carried out his ministry rather than about his gospel message. However, he may have wanted to test his message against the arguments of the other apostles, to regain confidence that his doctrine was from God and not from men.

Paul was writing to a church where controversy had arisen. The Galatians, the people to whom the letter was written, knew what the controversy was all about. Living 2000 years later, we don’t, so to understand Paul’s letter we have to read between the lines. “This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel may be preserved for you.”

Paul’s gospel had always been that salvation is a free gift from God. It does not require compliance with every detail of the Jewish law. In particular, it does not require circumcision, which is the physical symbol of the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants.

When he got to Jerusalem, Paul was tactful: “…meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.”

The meeting may have been quite contentious because Paul writes, “We did not give in to them for a moment”. And Paul’s arguments prevailed. He was able to write, “Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.”

He also says “As for those who were held in high esteem – whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favouritism – they added nothing to my message.” Although this looks very dismissive of others, Paul isn’t boasting here; he’s just stating a fact. The apostles – and probably others – didn’t require him to add anything at all to his gospel.

Paul leaves James, Cephas (Peter) and John with cordial handshakes and the agreement that Paul shall continue his ministry to the Gentiles, while the other apostles shall take the gospel to the Jews.

Paul can feel confident that the gospel he preaches is sound, and so can we, his readers 2000 years later. Paul’s experience of the Holy Spirit’s instruction and direction can also give us confidence to ask God for such direction in our own lives. And if we ask for it, we will be given it.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11: 11 – 13)

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for the great gift of your Holy Spirit. Please help me to listen attentively and obey the direction your Holy Spirit gives me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Galatians 1: 11 – 24 Paul called by God – Part 2

Galatians 1: 11 – 24 Paul called by God – Part 2

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached was not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might teach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.

* * *

In my previous post, I found disagreement between Luke’s account of Paul’s conversion in Acts and Paul’s own account of how he received the gospel of Jesus, recorded in his letter to the Galatians. The biggest discrepancy was that according to Acts, Paul started to teach in Damascus immediately after his conversion, whereas Galatians says that he went to Arabia.

Having now done more reading, I’ve been led to details that go some way towards reconciling the two accounts.

In the period when Paul was living, Arabia extended over a larger area than it does today, and included the desert kingdom of Nabatea. Nabatea was very close to Damascus, and was ruled by King Aretas.

“In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.” (2 Corinthians 11: 32 – 33)

Arabia was close enough to Damascus geographically and politically to make it more plausible that Luke in Acts is conflating Paul’s time in Arabia with the time in Damascus before Paul’s visit to Jerusalem.

However, we still need to explain the later reference in Acts:

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and all Judea and then to the Gentiles I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.” (Acts 26: 19 – 20)

This confirms that Paul preached in Jerusalem early in his ministry, and again says nothing about Arabia; rather, it says that Paul preached first in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, and then to the Gentiles. Perhaps Paul spent the whole period in Arabia working out the implications of his revelation.

Paul was telling the Galatians that he received the gospel directly from Jesus as a means of confirming his authority. The teaching that he had left with them has been corrupted and Paul is urgently concerned to set this right. However, there is another reason why the direct revelation of the gospel may be important.

Paul was called as an apostle without direct physical contact with Jesus during his human life. Despite not having received training by the apostles who had witnessed the earthly ministry of Jesus, they endorsed his ministry. That means that the Holy Spirit must have given Paul the insights that he needed.

And that is important for us. Ever since those early days, God has spoken through his Holy Spirit, and the Paul’s experience gives confidence that such promptings of the Spirit are legitimate. Paul is a witness that the Holy Spirit will lead us into the truth about Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for your Holy Spirit. Please help me to listen more attentively and to obey more readily.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Galatians 1: 11 – 24 Paul called by God

Galatians 1: 11 – 24 Paul called by God

* * *

If the bible is literally true and inerrant, we have to take these words of Paul’s completely at face value. If it is not inerrant, we have to seek to understand Paul the man as well as the teaching he has left in his epistles.

Suppose the bible is inerrant.

“I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached was not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”

Paul is claiming that his knowledge of the good news of Jesus was given to him directly by divine revelation. Furthermore, he takes pains to support the claim with evidence, telling us, “my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.” He then says “Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.”

According to this account, it was at least three years before Paul spoke to Cephas and James, the Lord’s brother.

We can check the details of this account of how Paul received his commission to preach about Jesus against the account of his conversion in Acts 9: 1 – 31, summarised below.

On the road to Damascus, Paul saw a vision and heard a voice that he was sure was Jesus. The experience left him blind. Within a few days he was in Damascus, and was miraculously healed and then baptised by Ananias, one of the local Christians. Paul started to preach the gospel immediately, and did so in Damascus for many days, until death threats forced him to flee. He then went to Jerusalem. Barnabas introduced him to the apostles. Paul talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews. When the Jews sought to kill him, the Christians in Jerusalem packed him off to Tarsus, via Caesarea. Some time later, Barnabas fetched Paul from Tarsus and they went to Antioch, where they worked for a whole year.

There is no mention of Arabia in this account. Also, far from avoiding Jerusalem and the apostles, Paul visited them relatively early in his ministry.

There is another account in Acts (Acts 26: 4 – 23). The key verses for comparison are verses 19 – 20. “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and all Judea and then to the Gentiles I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.” This confirms that Paul preached in Jerusalem early in his ministry, and again says nothing about Arabia.

To me, the two accounts seem troublingly different. Even if they don’t demonstrate conclusively that the bible is not inerrant, they certainly don’t support the idea that it is.

* * *

It’s late now, and I must post the analysis as it is. I shall continue to study this passage tomorrow, or during the next few days.

* * *

Prayer

Heavenly Father

I want to follow where Jesus leads so that I can grow closer to him and to you. Please help me to understand the truth of what I am reading.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Galatians 1: 1 – 10 No other gospel

Galatians 1: 1 – 10 No other gospel

Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead – and all the brothers and sisters with me,

To the churches in Galatia:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

* * *

This epistle is written very much from the mindset of someone deeply familiar with Judaism and used to a rabbinic style of argument. It is difficult for a 21^st century human to grasp the nuances because we are used to a very different way of presenting our point of view.

I am not a New Testament scholar; rather I have been trained and worked as a scientist, and now I am a writer of fiction. I am very conscious that I will probably make mistakes in the way I interpret Paul’s words. I shall pray before reading and writing each blog post, and trust God to draw me closer to Jesus. Nevertheless, treat my conclusions with care; they may easily be wrong.

* * *

Paul begins the letter by saying who has sent it.

“Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead – and all the brothers and sisters with me…”

It is from Paul the apostle and the brothers and sisters who supported him; but what is this statement at the heart of the introduction, about not being sent by men or a man?

It is to do with establishing by whose authority he is writing the letter.

One authority he might have invoked would be that of the other apostles in Jerusalem. They had been with Jesus during his earthly ministry, and their opinions had a great deal of influence. And yet Paul explicitly denies being sent by them; he is “sent not from men…”

He might have followed the practice of Jewish rabbis of the time. Under normal circumstances, a Jewish rabbi would say by whom he had been trained.

This was because a young man who wished to become a rabbi was trained by someone who was already notable as a rabbi. The bond between rabbi and disciple was very strong. The disciple sought not merely to learn from his teacher, but to imitate him in how he lived his life. As he progressed in his career, he would declare who he had studied under; these were his credentials. For example, see how Paul introduces himself to the crowd in Jerusalem who were rioting in protest against his visit to the temple. “Then Paul said: I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.” (Acts 22: 3)

However, Paul explicitly denies being sent by a rabbi in that way; he is “sent not from…a man…”

Instead, Paul claims the highest possible authority. He is “…sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.”

As we read verses 6 – 10, we start to understand why Paul is so concerned to claim the highest credentials. It is clear that the Galatians are turning from the gospel that Paul originally brought to them to something which is so far removed from what Paul taught that it is “really no gospel at all”. Paul expresses himself very strongly. He calls down God’s curse on anyone who preaches a gospel that was not the message that the Galatians first believed. He says it doesn’t matter how powerful or influential such a preacher is; he might even be an angel. Even if Paul himself changes his message, he would be wrong. The Galatians must believe the gospel as they first received it.

We will learn more about this in the next few days.

For me, this epistle holds a challenge. Paul has claimed the highest authority for his letter, but is he right to do so? Let us see how he develops his argument.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

You want all mankind to know the truth about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Please help me to understand what Paul writes in the light of your truth about Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

2 Thessalonians 3: 6 – 18 Warning against idleness

2 Thessalonians 3: 6 – 18 Warning against idleness

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Final greetings

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

* * *

Some of the Thessalonians were not living according to the example set by Paul, Silas and Timothy. Paul’s first letter to them says “Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 13 – 14)

Despite this admonition, Paul has to write a second letter (2 Thessalonians, the subject of our current study)

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”

There is still a problem with some of the Christians being ‘idle and disruptive’. It is possible that teaching about the imminent return of Jesus was being misunderstood. Some people may have stopped working, believing the return of Jesus to be so close as to make daily work not merely unnecessary but a distraction.

The way Paul chooses to deal with the problem is instructive. He reminds the Thessalonians of the example that he, Silas and Timothy set. He reminds them of the rule he gave them, namely: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’ And he says: ‘Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.’

Paul reminds the faithful Thessalonians that those causing the problem, the ‘busybodies’ are in error, but nevertheless they are still fellow believers. They need to be gently but firmly guided back to the right way of living, not condemned.

And Paul, as he signs off the letter in his own handwriting, confirms their status by saying, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” The letter – the admonishment – and the blessing of the grace of the Lord Jesus – is sent to all.

And that applies to all of us too. We are none of us perfect. We can all benefit from reading Paul’s words; we can all benefit from the loving admonishment of fellow Christians; and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is essential, and a great blessing, if we are to live as God wishes.

Prayer

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 3: 1 – 5 Request for prayer

2 Thessalonians 3: 1 – 5 Request for prayer

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

* * *

Even the apostle Paul needs prayer from other believers. It’s instructive to look at what he asks the Thessalonians to pray for. He’s very definite as to the prayer that he needs.

Firstly, he says, “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you.” Paul was commanded by God to preach the message of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and how it means salvation for those who accept it. He wants with all his heart to see the church grow both in numbers and in faith, just as it has in Thessalonica.

Secondly, Paul asks the Thessalonians, “And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.” The Acts of the Apostles tells us how much Paul has suffered from “wicked and evil people” for preaching the gospel. He has been flogged, stoned and imprisoned. But it’s not to avoid suffering that he wants the Thessalonians to pray. After all, if he wished to escape persecution he would stop preaching and go somewhere he wasn’t notorious.

No, he wants to be delivered from “wicked and evil people” so that he can continue telling people the good news about Jesus.

Paul knew that God’s will for him was that he should preach the gospel. What he asks the Thessalonians to do is to align their prayers for him with God’s will. After all, there were many things they could have prayed for; that Paul should be kept safe; that he should have helpers to support him; that he should be able to visit them soon; and plenty more. Such prayers would have been well-meaning, but mistaken. Prayer is effective only insofar as it agrees with God’s will. Paul recognises that he doesn’t know many things about God’s will for his ministry, just that he should spread the message of Jesus as widely as possible, and that’s what he asks the Thessalonians to pray for.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for calling us to witness to your Son, Jesus. Please strengthen us by your Holy Spirit so that we may be effective in our witness.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 – 17 Stand firm

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 – 17 Stand firm

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

* * *

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”

This single sentence holds a great deal of encouraging teaching.

Paul is giving thanks for the steadfastness of the Thessalonian Christians in the face of persecution. He addresses them as “brothers and sisters loved by the Lord”. That’s a wonderful thought, isn’t it? That we, as faithful Christians, are “loved by the Lord”.

“God chose you”. Just as the Thessalonians were chosen, so are we. Another matter about which we can rejoice!

“Firstfruits” This is a reference to the Jewish practice of making an annual offering of produce to God. A man was expected to offer a tenth of what he produced of the traditional seven agricultural products, namely wheat, barley, grapes (in the form of wine), figs, pomegranates, olives (in the form of oil), and dates. Furthermore, it was the best of the harvest that was offered. When Paul refers to the Thessalonians as “firstfruits”, he is celebrating them as a wonderful offering to God. We, too, are an offering to God.

“To be saved”. After this mortal life we will stay joyfully in the presence of God and Jesus.

“Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit”. After God has called us, and we have responded with faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit deepens our relationship with Jesus, helps us to love each other better, and strengthens and empowers us to do God’s will.

“And through belief in the truth.” The Thessalonians accepted Paul’s teaching and believed in Jesus. They accepted that Jesus had been raised from the dead by God, and had been given power and authority. That is our faith, too, and, like the Thessalonians, we have been saved.

ALLELUIA!

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for choosing me as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

2 Thessalonians 2: 1 – 12 The man of lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2: 1 – 12 The man of lawlessness

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed bu the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

* * *

There was a strand of Judaism which concerned itself with eschatology, which is the prophetic understanding of the last days of earth. The early Christians embraced this tradition, partly because they expected Jesus to return quickly.

The imminent return of Jesus made them eager to know what would happen, and passages like today’s study are the way that they were able to talk about it in imagery with which they were familiar.

It’s two thousand years since then, and the images of the apocalypse that helped the early church understand the victory of Jesus no longer have the same meaning. How can we express the important insights of Paul’s teaching in modern terms?

Firstly, he acknowledges that sin – the man of lawlessness – is already at work in the world. Today we can see that without needing the pictures. It’s clear that human society has sin built into it. Democratic government assumes that we cast our votes according to our self-interest. Money is unequal at every scale, from local to global. It’s very hard for the poor to escape poverty no matter how hard they work. Trading laws are heavily biased against poor nations. Rich nations earn money selling high-tech weaponry to oppressive regimes who use them to kill innocent civilians.

Secondly, Paul states that God, through Jesus, has the final victory over sin. Self-sacrificing love will eventually triumph over selfishness, but only through Jesus.

I don’t really feel that I need images of God’s enemies being destined for destruction. But what an arrogant mindset that is! If I were being persecuted for my faith, I might well want reassurance that God’s enemies will be judged and destroyed. I have to confess that I benefit from the unfairness of the world; I am not rich, but there are many millions of people who work harder than I do, or have ever done, for smaller rewards. I must also confess that I don’t devote 100% of my time, energy and resources to helping to bring about God’s kingdom.

And perhaps that’s one of the valuable things about eschatology. It points up, very starkly, that the struggle between good and evil is deadly. There are no half measures; we’re on one side or another.

May I, and anyone reading this blog, be found on the side of good, trusting in Jesus as our Lord, and opposing evil with all our strength.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for disturbing my complacency. Please help me to be wholehearted in doing your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen