Resolution - to read the Bible

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Beware of the 3 rd man theme as a plot or conspiracy to bring the emotions and intellect together for a flash of grasp ...

Can cause erosive deterioration of the primary state if the edifice takes too much attention ... a part of the autism spectrum!

Thus the shattered states ...
 
Paul's letter the church in Galatia - Galatians 1 - 6

As I expected, this letter seems to be closely related to material we read about in the book of Acts (although Acts was written much later and may have used Paul's letters for - not the other way around). It seems to be addresssing the problem of believers from the church in Jerusalem coming to areas where Paul had established churches and contradicting some of his teaching, Paul defends his teachings by giving his qualifications in a brief biography. Paul claimed that his revelation came directly from Jesus Christ who had appeared directly to him, ( Question: did Christ appear in his reserrected form any time after Pentecost? Paul's claim would indicate to me that he did? ) He gives testamony of his journey to Jerusalem to defend his teaching, and claims the church leaders, James, Cephas (Peter) and John agreed that he should preach to the Gentiles. Paul seems especially bitter towards Peter who, at one time accepted Gentiles as equals, ow accepts the teaching of those from Jerusalem who disrupt Paul's teaching. The issue arrises about who one can eat with - can Jews and Gentiles meet at the table and share a meal (the Eucharist)? Once Peter did, now he doesn't. (comment: some churches have closed communion - the UCC invites all to the Lord's table)
 
Paul then introduces a second theme in his letter - the question of faith vs works. Paul strongly believes that we are justified by faith through the grace of God. James, in his letter, claims that faith without works is dead. Between the two we get two sides of the question facing the early church. It goes on today.
Paul states that by God's grace "in ChistJesus you are all children of God through faith. ... There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
 
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In Chapter 4 Paul speaks of his illness, and how the people of Galatia did not treat him with contempt or store that welcomed him when he first came. Why are they turning to others? Paul compares the people of Galatia and of Jerusalem to Hagar and Sarah of the Old Testament.

Paul advises Galatians not to be circumcised because that would put them under the law.
He tells them that Christ set them free. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Here is where I found common ground between Paul and James: Paul says although we are saved by the grace of God we should serve one another humbly in love. "For the entire Law is fulfilled in keeping this one commandment: love your neighbour as yourself." James says: by your works they shall know you.
Near the end of chapter 5 we find the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.do good to all people.
Then Paul adds a footnote in his own hand "see what large letters I am making "
did he dictate the body of this letter to a scribe?
Paul's conclusion: I know there neither circumcision nor uncircumcision mean anything; what counts is the new creation.
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Today's reading is from Chapter 17 to 18:18. When I was reading earlier this morning I found it so interesting that I didn't realize I was reading well past Chapter 18, and was all the way to chapter 23. before I stopped. It seems to me quite different from the board felt as a preteen in Sunday school tracing Paul's journeys on a crude map of the Eastern Mediterranean area. I don't remember my Sunday School ever touching on the underlying themes of Paul's life experiences and teachings. Reading now I cannot help but notice that wherever Paul and his companions travelled the first is the synagogues and preach there. They also preach to the Gentiles, and made many converts among the Jews, Greeks, and prominent women. And wherever they went they were followed by Jews from Jerusalem who stirred up the people against them. Often this would mean that they had to leave town and move on, but they would leave behind a group of believers who would continue to meet as a church.

In chapter 17, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and others visit Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens (all in Greece). In Athens Paul preached the well-known sermon beginning with reference to their idol to the unknown God, and continuing to speak about the one true God in whom "we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his offspring." Following on with his teaching some sneered and turned away but others became followers including a woman named Damaris.
 
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Next we find Paul in Corinth where he met Aquila and Priscilla,: tentmakers like Paul.

When Paul preached to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah they protested and became abusive. Paul states "from now on I will go to the Gentiles."
Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in the vision and encouraged him. He stayed in Corinth for another year and a half. Many Jews in Corinth continued to oppose Paul charging that he is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law. The room Roman proconsul refused to have anything to do with the dispute between these two groups of Jews (it seems that Christianity was still considered a cult of the Jewish religion). Paul stayed in for some time and when he left he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.

We will take a break now to read Paul's letters to the Thessalonians.
 
1 st Thessalonians, chapter 1 to 5. An easy read.
I have heard this letter referred to as Paul's love letter to the church in Thessalonia.
In. Paul speaks about his affection for the church and his longing to visit again. He speaks of their faith and encourages them in times of trouble.
Trouble may mean the Jews from Jerusalem seem to follow Paul around and contradict his teachings. I'm not sure just who he is referring to. Paul himself was a Jew and speaks of his Jewish heritage. James and the other disciples and the followers in Jerusalem and Judea were Jewish. They never considered that they had left their Jewish roots but though0t of themselves more as an offshoot or branch of a rich heritage. The split between the Christian church and the Jewish religion did not occur until about 70 A.D. following the destruction of the Temple and the entire city of Jerusalem as the Romans put down a Jewish uprising and persecuted the Jews. Paul actually uses a lot of Jewish scripture in his sermons.
I think that when he refers to 'the Jews' he is actually referring to the Jewish followers of Jesus from Jerusalem. It seems that the agreement described in Acts between James and Paul was not quite as acrimonious as the writer of the Acts would have us think.
While reading to this letter, I remember a sermon that I once heard where the minister gave a dramatic reading of this letter at the beginning of the sermon. It was powerful. One thing he pointed out that although only five short chapters along, this letter seems to have three endings, where it seems that Paul is closing off with a blessing when he suddenly thinks of something else he wants to say and writes a bit more, at another blessing and is about to close again, when he adds a 'PS'. I hadn't noticed but until it was pointed out. Now it seems so obvious.
 
Second Thessalonians chapter 2 -
near the end of his first letter to Thessalonians, Paul speaks about the end times.
This continues into his second letter. He expected to happen soon, during his lifetime. Paul claims to have met the risen Christ several times, and that his revelation was no different from that of the other apostles.
He expects to meet him again soon when he comes to establish the reign of God. Much of his vision seems to have come from the Hebrew Scriptures and the vision of the prophets.

Please note that this is just my overview of this letter after reading it several times over the last few days.
 
In the vastness of ultimate time (eternal distance) is mortal time short?

Thus the wee people of timeless insertion of myth and ripples ...

Stoics see no humour in escape, thus the death of children without imagination ... a vicious cycle!

Outsiders, aliens, would never understand without the experience of a brush with humanity!

Thus the Reuben ...
 
Acts chapter 18, verse 19, to the end of chapter 19.
After Paul left Corinth, he travelled to Ephesus where he spoke boldly in the synagogue for a few months. When he ran into opposition there, he moved to a lecture hall and continued led discussions daily for two years. Paul and his helpers performed miracles and drew many followers to Christ Jesus. And the word of the Lord spread widely.
Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, but he would make many stops along the way.

Meanwhile in Ephesus, a riot broke out. It had its roots in economics. Before Paul came, the silversmith had been very successful in making and selling idols to the Gentile gods. Business slacked off when many were converted to Christianity. The right rioters gathered at the theatre where Paul wanted to address crowd but, knowing the danger he would be in, the disciples would not let him.
Like many riots this one resulted in confusion. "Some people were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there." (Acts 19:24)
for some reason I find this quote amusing.
City clerk addressed the crowd and the rioters dispersed. Paul moved on Paul moved on, leaving followers in Ephesus.
 
First Corinthians 1:1 – 4.


Now we come to Paul's letters to the Corinthians. We don't know how many letters he wrote to the church there, perhaps as many as four. Parts of some of them may have been incorporated into the two letters that we do have.
The first thing I noticed in reading Corinthians is how different in tone it is a recent letters we read of Paul to the Thessalonians. In the letters of two Thessalonians Paul seems very proud of and pleased with the congregation. His letters are full of encouragement and praise. Not so with his letters to the Corinthians. He seems disappointed in them, angry or annoyed.
He speaks of the quarrels and divisions among them. While some seem to support him and his helpers, and even with them some will say 'I am of Paul' or 'I am of Apollos', others are saying that they follow Cephas (Peter) and some are saying that they follow Christ. Paul asks 'is Christ to be divided?'

Quoting the Hebrew Scriptures, Paul speaks of the difference between God's wisdom that we know through the Spirit and human wisdom.
 
Paul tells the church in Corinth that because of their immaturity and their quarreling among themselves he had to address them as 'mere infants in Christ'. Not as mature believers. He uses the imagery of a plant: as servants he planned. The seed, Apollo slaughtered it, but God has been making it grow. He also uses the imagery building built upon a firm foundation. In the light of day quality of each priest person's work will be seen.
Paul advises 'all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world or life or death were the present or the future – all are yours, and you are all Christ, and Christ is of God.

While scolding the people of Corinth for becoming arrogant, he also assures them that his letter is not to shame them but to warn them. He urges them to imitate him

He has sent Timothy (who he refers to as his son who he loves) and tells them that Timothy is faithful in the Lord. Paul claims that his way of life in Christ Jesus is what he teaches.
Near the end of chapter 4 Paul assures people that he will come again and asks if he should come with the rod of discipline, or in love and with a gentle spirit.
 
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