He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.
Summary: How we speak and write reflects how we think and feel. Paul is no different than any of us on that point.
Peter makes an interesting point. “He writes the same way in all his letters…” means that Paul is consistent in his message. He does not write this way to one church and that way to another. Paul is consistent. His words reflect who he is as a person (i.e. his personality) and what God has told him to pass on to us.
Every once in a while a politician will make the news because they are caught on camera faking a local accent or dialect. More often, politicians are caught saying one thing to one constituent group and another to a different group. These people are not trying to be consistent. Quite the opposite! They are trying to be all things to all people.
Politicians are selling people on the idea that their vote will result in the politician giving them what they want. Salespeople are in the same business, only they are more upfront with the costs and the customer usually ends up with something, even if it is not what they had hoped for.
Paul only knows one way to talk. He is intensely logical, unrelentingly honest, and is passionately committed. It does not matter if he is talking to the lowest servant or the greatest king. His message is consistent. While Paul’s consistency speaks to his character, his logic and passion speak to his “voice.”
Your voice is unique. Whoever you are, your voice is as unique as your fingerprints. The same is true for Paul. The words he chooses and the way he structures his sentences and his arguments are like the numbers for a combination lock. There is a particular arrangement of characteristics that spell P-A-U-L.
But there is something even more unique about this man: He speaks for God.
Underlying the voice of Paul is the voice of our Creator. This is the same voice that underlies all the Holy Scriptures. The consistency in Paul’s writings echoes the consistency of our God’s voice in Scripture.
The Word of God is called “The Word of God” for a reason: God said it. We recognize the writings of Paul because they reflect both the Word of God and Paul’s unique combination of logic and passion. Each of us speaks in a way uniquely designed for us by our Creator.
Application: Speak out for God!
Food for Thought: How would you describe Paul’s writings?
Interesting question brother. I know it is subjective, but I have always felt Paul’s writings, as inspired by the Holy Spirit (2Peter 1: 20 – 21), reflect his character. I see him as committed, focused, passionate and stressing the deity of Christ. Passages like Colossians 1: 15 – 20 show his high view of the Son of God (which is also truth), passages like Philippians 3: 7 – 11 show that his passion and focus is on Christ, and passages like 2 Corinthians 11: 16 – 33 reveal an unwavering commitment. Of course, he is human and could get discouraged and have moments of weakness (1 Corinthians 2: 3). [All links]
Rich,
I envy (in a good way!) your familiarity with Scripture. The picture of Paul that you paint tells us about Paul, but it also tells us about you. Your comment reads like you are talking about a very close friend.
Well said! Thanks!
I think of Paul’s writing as easily distracted… In the best way. So often he is talking about one thing, mentions Jesus, and then is distracted by Jesus and he just has to share the gospel again. It happens all the time in his letters. All subjects lead back to Jesus!
Ah yes…
I call those distractions “rabbit trails.”
Some trails wander off over the hill, but as you say, Paul always weaves them back into his larger narrative.
01-14-2022, 2 Peter 3:16a, How would you describe Paul’s writings?
I have a variety of tools in my tool box. Crescent wrench, open end wrench, box end wrench, pipe wrench, socket set, etc. Each is designed and built for a specific purpose, but by themselves can do nothing. They are only useful as I select and use the one I know will be the most effective for the task at hand.
Paul was a tool of God, inspired by God to record His Words in 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. To spread the word of God as a missionary and church builder throughout the known world of his time. He knew he was designed and built by God for this specific purpose and always made sure his audience knew he was merely the humble messenger, not the message.
Jeremiah 1:4-5, 7-8, Isaiah 44:2, 49:5, Galatians 1:15-16,
Ephesians 2:10
Paul was from a prominent Jewish family, highly educated, an authority of the Old Testament, passionate. A gifted Spirit filled man who knew he had been called by God, and chose to live in total humble obedience to God. He willingly demonstrated his commitment to serve God in all circumstances. He knew his only purpose on earth was to share Gods Grace with the world, and he boldly spoke as well as wrote to others as he was led by God.
John 15:16, Romans 1:1, Ephesians 4:11-12, 2 Timothy 1:9
Pauls writings proclaim the truths given to him by God and are uniquely his style as he willingly, often uses himself as an example to follow as well as his inability to achieve the truths he proclaimed during this life on earth.
To Follow: Philippians 3:17, 4:9, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
His Weakness: 1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 3:8, 1 Timothy 1:15
Paul was truly a man of God and is a great example to all believers.
So … to go back to your original point:
Is Paul a crescent wrench or a pipe wrench??
🙂
The short answer would be both.
1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
Gotta be careful with this one, but being flexible and remaining in God’s Will are required. Use our freedom to allow others to see Christ in us. Kinda like eating with sinners or education a Pharisee like Nicodemus.
Ron,
Good response! Perhaps the main key is not the kind of tool we are, but how God uses us. A good craftsman can find any number of uses for a particular tool. Paul was deeply committed to serving God, which made him malleable in the Father’s hands.
You word it very well Jeff.
Thank you!
Ron
I enjoyed everyone’s answers. They are way better than mine. I was going to say his writings looked like Hebrew words.
Or if you can’t read Hebrew. It kinda looks like Yiddish.
Tim …
LOL!! You are hilarious! 🙂
Thank you! I appreciate the smile!