Paul …
Summary: Sometimes it seems like we are going over the same ground again and again. The Bible tends to repeat itself. Perhaps the reason for repetition is that we need to hear the message over and over.
The first Three Minute Bible post arrived on the internet on April 18, 2018. After writing meditations on various New Testament biblical texts for over five years on a near-daily basis, there is bound to be some repetition. Part of the reason for this is that the Bible itself repeats certain things over and over again.
Repetition can be good.
As we begin our study of Colossians, it is worth taking another look at the letter’s author.
But wait! Who is the author? Is it Paul, or is it Jesus Christ?
My takeaway insight from Paul’s letter to the Galatians was unexpected. As we finished the last chapter, I found myself pondering the dividing line between the Old Testament and the New.
When does the New Testament really start?
It seems to this writer that the life of Jesus is part of the Old Testament. He is, you might say, the last Old Testament prophet.
Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, but he is also a prophet in that he speaks God’s truth to the religious rulers of his day (Matthew 13:57, Luke 7:16, 13:33, John 4:19). Like other prophets that God had sent, Jesus was killed because he did not comfort people in their sin, but instead exposed their sin.
At the end of each Gospel, there is a short section that describes Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead. Mark and Luke include Jesus’ ascension into heaven. There is a moment in these stories that is unique because it describes exactly when the old covenant is fulfilled, and the new covenant begins. That moment is when the curtain of the temple is torn in two (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45).
Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave. With his resurrection, he proved himself more than a prophet. He showed the world that he is the Son of God.
If the Bible had stopped there, with the ascension of Jesus, our understanding of the Gospel message would be different. Jesus (God) did not write things down on paper. He wrote on people’s hearts. His disciples were his parchments, and his words were his writing instruments. The Good News is that Jesus’ death and resurrection didn’t stop him from writing. He continues to write on our hearts to this day.
Paul was one of those people. Jesus revealed himself to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6). Later, Jesus revealed to Paul the essence of the Gospel message (Galatians 1:11-12). Because of Paul’s nature and upbringing, he was uniquely qualified to receive this revelation from Jesus and understand it. He was also uniquely qualified to make the message known to the world at large.
“Why?,” you might ask.
Because he wasn’t afraid to repeat himself — over and over again.
Application: Read the Bible over and over, and then share the message over and over.
Food for Thought: What else makes Paul uniquely qualified as a messenger of Jesus’ Gospel?
There could be many reasons. But the fact that he saw the resurrected Christ and was personally called as an Apostle would be high on my list (original story recorded in Acts 9).
Rich,
Very solid reasoning, sir! Thank you! 🙂
What else makes Paul uniquely qualified as a messenger of Jesus’ Gospel?
We are created beings with limited knowledge trying to fully comprehend and, convey knowledge of our creator who can only be understood, as He has revealed Himself by His actions and words which He ordained be recorded in our Bibles.
In His unlimited foreknowledge of all things, at what He determined to be the perfect time, God spoke: Genesis 1:26-27, And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Romans 8:29-30, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Both Old and New Testaments speak of God’s foreknowledge. Nothing in the future is hidden from God’s eyes, Isaiah 41:23; 42:9; 44:6–8; 46:10
Scripture clarifies that God specifically chose Paul, before he was born, to proclaim the Gospel, mainly, but not exclusively, to the gentiles. The words Paul wrote and spoke were given to him by God who before creation of this world, had known Paul would become His uniquely qualified servant.
Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32, Galatians 1:15-16, 1 Peter 1:20, Romans 8:29-30, Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 1:11
Paul’s Epistles, you can see quite clearly why God set Paul apart for this crucial role. Paul was fluent in the Greek language and Greek culture and learned in Greek literature, which enabled him to relate to the Greeks (gentiles) on their level. In some cases, he cited their poets to get his foot in the door as a prelude to revealing God to them.
In His foreknowledge, God knows the date every believer will choose to receive Jesus and those who will reject Him. He has ordained we are each convicted by the Holy Spirit, receive this opportunity, and will stand before His Judgement seat, knowing the choice we made.
Thank you, Ron.
Excellent points about Paul’s Greek background!
What else makes Paul uniquely qualified as a messenger of Jesus’ Gospel?
The change of how he lived, acted, position in the religious community, and beliefs. How they were on way and then now they are different. A sudden change like that can speak volumes to people and make them wonder what could cause someone to change who they are so fast. Jesus
“I was one way, and now I am completely different, and the thing that happened in between was him” is a line from the show The Chosen.
Thank you, Tim.
Your words were well “chosen.”