Part 18 (2/2)

II. =Mem.= 1. Je. 2. Gen. 3. Both J. and G. 4. ”Judai.”

III. =Lead.= 1. Pau. 2. Jam. 3. Pet. 4. Phi. 5. Bar.

6. Sil. 7. t.i.t.

IV. =Gov.= (Dir. Guid. H. S). 1. Aps. 2. El. 3. Pro. 4. Tea.

V. =Doc. Vie.= Mes. Res. Ret. Jes.

VI. =Mor. Stan.= ”No comp.”

VII. =Meet. Pla.= Syn. ”Up. roo.”

VIII. =Lit.= O. T. ”Or. gosp.”

IX. =Uni.= Com. spir. lif.

Review Questions

What stage in the church's progress do we now consider? In what lands was the church established at this time? What two cla.s.ses of people const.i.tuted its members.h.i.+p? How did these two cla.s.ses wors.h.i.+p together? What service was observed in the homes of members? Who were the Judaizers? What harm did they do? Name the three great leaders at this time. Who was James? Give an instance when Peter was not entirely consistent in his conduct. Name four other leaders and a fact about each. Why did the church of that time need very little government? Name four kinds of officers in the church. What was the special work of the apostles? Where did the elders originate? With what churches are elders named in this period? What were the prophets in the church? Name some who are called prophets in this period. What was the work of teachers in the church? Were doctrinal studies or discussions prominent at this time? What were the three prominent doctrines of the church? Why do the moral standards of the church come into prominence at this time? What were those standards? Where did the Christians hold their meetings? What was the literature of the church at this time? What do you understand by ”the oral gospel?” Was such a gospel in existence? Wherein did the unity of the church consist? How was this unity shown?

SIXTEENTH STUDY

The Preparation of Paul for his Work

PART ONE

Before we enter upon the study of ”The church among the Gentiles,” our next period, there is a preliminary topic to be considered. The only record which we possess of the period before us, the Book of Acts, not only represents Paul as the leading worker for the gospel, but it even omits all reports of the work of other apostles and evangelists. There must have been other workers: Peter, Barnabas, Philip, and other workers were still living, and must have been active in founding churches; but their work is not mentioned. We find mention of churches which Paul had not founded (Acts 21. 3, 7; Acts 28. 13, 14, 15). Paul stands before us as the leading and the typical worker in the gospel. We will therefore take for our theme, =The Preparation and Methods of Paul=.

At A. D. 50 Paul is now at Antioch, about fifty years old, having been born probably about four years after Jesus Christ. His first missionary journey has taken place, and he is now about to enter upon his second missionary journey. Let us notice some of his advantages for leaders.h.i.+p in the gospel.

I. He was =a Jew=. (See Phil. 3. 5; Rom. 11. 1). The leader in this movement must be a Jew. 1. Because as a Jew he would have a _training_ in Bible knowledge, and in the _faith_ of a coming Messiah such as no Gentile could possess. 2. Moreover the work in nearly all places must begin in the synagogue. (See Acts 17. 1; 2. 10; 18. 1, 4; 19. 1, 8). And only a Jew could take part in its services.

II. He was a =Trained and Recognized Rabbi=: an accredited teacher of the law; ”a college man” with the prestige of scholars.h.i.+p won in the school of Gamaliel, the greatest Jewish master of that age (Acts 5. 34; Acts 22. 3). Such a teacher would be welcome in any synagogue. In this respect contrast Paul with Peter and the other apostles (Acts 4. 13).

III. He was a =h.e.l.lenist=, or ”Grecian Jew;” i. e., a Jew of the Dispersion; by birth and environment broader than the Jews of Jerusalem, who rarely came in contact with Gentiles. He was a traveler acquainted with the world; spoke Greek as fluently as Hebrew, an absolute necessity for preaching to Gentiles (Acts 21. 37, 40). He spoke to the Greek philosophers in their own tongue and after their own manner. Contrast Acts 17. 22 with Acts 22. 1. Tradition says that Peter, when at Rome, used an interpreter in preaching to the church. Paul's ability to speak at least two languages gave him a great advantage.

IV. Another advantage was that he was by birth a =Roman Citizen= (Acts 16. 37. Acts 22. 25-28). This privilege, at that time rare among those outside of Italy, gave the apostle safety, immunity from imprisonment by the local rulers, and the right to a trial before a Roman judge, with appeal to the emperor. James was put to death, and Peter thrown into prison by King Herod (Acts 12. 2-4); but Paul was by his citizens.h.i.+p undoubtedly saved more than once from torture and from death.

V. He was a divinely-called =Apostle=. When he spoke it was with all the fervor and authority of one who had seen the Lord and had received a special command from the lips of the ascended Christ to bear testimony to his gospel. His call came with his conversion (Acts 26. 12-19). He claimed the authority of an apostle (Gal. 1. 1; 1 Cor. 9. 1). Notice that in his letters Paul always places ”apostles” before ”prophets”

(Eph. 2. 20; 3. 5; 4. 11), as holding the higher office in the church.

VI. He possessed rare =Natural Endowments= for his work.

1. He was a man of _sympathy_, warm-hearted and tender; making strong friends.h.i.+ps, drawing men after him. Note how in every place he found friends (Acts 19. 31; 20. 4; 27. 3, 43).

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