Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PAUL

                                                                                 

                                         PAUL

Paul is one of the main contributors to the New Testament. Previously known as Saul, he was a high ranking Jew, a member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and educated by Gamaliel, one of the leading Jewish teachers of his day. As Paul, himself, put it:

…If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 

circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, 

of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; 

concerning the law, a Pharisee; 

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 

concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

(Philippians 3:4-6)

As a Jew, Paul was obviously at his peak, but it was as a follower of Christ that he came to Macedonia and Thessalonica. He was trying to convince the same people that he had previously supported to change their belief and start following the very teaching he had previously condemned. In addition to this, however, Paul also had liabilities which had to be dealt with in his efforts to spread the gospel message in the cities to which he travelled.

Paul was accused of doing and being many things when he was trying to reach the people of Macedonia and he responded in a straightforward manner to these charges.*

He was accused of having a police record and of being untrustworthy as a result. He reported having “had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi.”**

He was implied as being delusional and of having motives that were not entirely pure and his response was that “our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness.”**

When there was an accusation of him deceiving others, he responded in a straightforward manner by stating that neither was he “nor was it [the gospel] in deceit.”**

If people accused him of preaching to please other men instead of God or to reap personal praise, he mentioned “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel…not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or others.”**

And if one suggested that Paul was preaching only to get personal gain or to lord it over others, he stated that “[as] God is witness, neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”**

In these few verses of Thessalonians, Paul relates the straightforward manner in which the gospel should be presented; without any reserve but with honesty and gentleness and with a measure of discipline as needed so that one “would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”** 

These are statements which should give all of us something to think about.

*Adapted from “The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians” (The New Daily Study Bible) Barclay, William as reported in the Commentaries by David Guzak

 **All from 1Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 1-10