Christian Life

New Eyes on the New Testament Pt.2

July 15, 2017 By Jerry Jones 8 Comments

II. Exegetical Issues

Understanding the Gospels

The Synoptic Problem

Determining the relationship of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, or the synoptic problem, is challenging at best. Initially it is important to recognize that each of the gospels represents two different occasions: the occasion of its writing and the occasion the events actually occurred. It is generally accepted the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) were written in the early to late 60s, however some critics contend that Matthew and Luke were probably written in the 70’s or even 80’s. Their composition and content indicate that Mark was written first then Matthew, followed by Luke. Matthew reflects the basic outline of Mark but includes more information. Luke probably had access to the content of Mark and Matthew and any sources they had. In fact Luke told his readers he that investigated materials about Jesus from various sources (1:1-3).

Target Audience and Objective

When a writer wanted to convey information to Christians in the first century he chose one of two forms, a letter or a gospel. While the gospels are more biographical in nature, the objective of their authors was not just to tell a life story. Their intent was to use life events to convey a specific purpose or objective.

Matthew was a Jew writing to a mostly Jewish audience and/or those who would have been familiar with the Torah and Jewish tradition. His account is filled with quotations from the Hebrew bible with no explanation of Jewish customs. According to the author of Hebrews some Christians were beginning to question Jesus’s credibility (Heb 5:11-6:6; 12:12). Apparently Matthew’s objective was to affirm Jesus as the promised Messiah, and also to affirm him as a pro-Torah rabbi. Mark was targeting a mostly Gentile audience therefore he used more Jewish detail in his explanation of events. Consider the comparison of Matt 15:2-5 with Mark 7:1-12. Both texts address hand washing and support of parents however only Mark provides the Jewish components. Probably Mark’s objective was to define the nature of discipleship to a mostly Greco-Roman readership. Luke wanted his mostly Gentile audience to understand Jesus as not just the savior of the Jewish nation but of the entire world. Accordingly he traced the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam instead of Abraham as Matthew had done. The gospel of John was probably penned in the mid 90’s and stands in contrast to Matthew, Mark and Luke. Even though it is not one of the synoptic gospels, it too, illustrates an author pursuing a specific objective. John informed his readers that his purpose in writing was to provide a basis for the belief that Jesus was indeed the Son of God (John 20:21).

Significantly, the chronology of events was evidently not important for the gospel writers, nor were the details. For example consider the following:

Matt 8:26 and Mark 4:40: little faith or no faith in calming the storm.
Matt 7:11 and Luke 11:13: good gifts or Holy Spirit from the Father.
Matt 10:10 and Mark 6:8: take no staff or take a staff when going out.
Matt 17:20 and Mark 9:29: faith or prayer in driving out demons.
Matt 8:15 and Mark 1:31: wait on him or wait on them by Peter’s mother in law.

Selection and Adaptation of Material

The amount of information we have about Jesus’s life is very limited. John affirmed Jesus did “many other miraculous signs” (20:30), and did “many other things” (21:25) that were not recorded. Luke indicated three times he knew more information than he “selected” to include in his treatise. One, he said John exhorted the people “with many other words” (3:18). Two, he reported the guards “said many other insulting things” to Jesus at the time of his death (22:65). Three, he stated that Peter said “many other words” (Acts 2:40).

Because Matthew, Mark and Luke each had a specific audience and theological objective in mind, they selected material that would fulfill their purposes. This is clearly demonstrated by the conflict concerning divorce between Jesus and the Pharisees. Both Matthew and Mark chose to include this event but they used it in different ways. Mark included the dialogue as one of three triads he used to teach against divorce (1). Mark also seemed to adapt the situation to his largely Gentile audience (at this point talking to the disciples in the house and not the Pharisees) when he added instruction about a woman divorcing her husband. A Torah knowledgeable audience would have known that under Jewish law a woman was the property of her husband and, as such, could not divorce him. For that same reason, according to the Torah, adultery could not be committed against the wife. Matthew used the dialogue as a focal point to illustrate the fallacy of law keeping over servant hood. Luke would have known of this conflict but “selected” not to record it. Instead he included only one isolated statement about divorce and apparently used it to illustrate the greed of the Pharisees (Luke 16:18).

In another example Matthew and Mark adapted the illustration of the fig tree to accomplish two different objectives. According to Matthew Jesus cursed the fig tree, it immediately withered, and then Jesus used the example to teach about faith (21:19). In Mark, Jesus cursed the fig tree on the way to Jerusalem (11:12-14). Upon his arrival there he rebuked the chief priest and teachers of the law (11:18), but it was not until the next morning that the withering of the fig tree was mentioned. For Mark the cursing of the fig tree appears to be symbolic of Jesus’s judgment of Judaism, followed by his teaching on faith (11:22-26).

Literary Style

The use of various literary devices was just as common in the ancient world as it is today. A careful study of the gospels reveals that similes, puns, proverbs, metaphors, parables, and hyperboles were often used. Parables and hyperboles were especially predominate in Jesus’s teaching. The word parable comes from two Greek words and means to “cast along side of.” Its intent is to compare something familiar with something that is not. A hyperbole or overstatement is used to draw attention to an important concept. For example when Jesus discussed wealth, he used the overstatement of a camel going through the eye of a needle. A chiasmus is another literary device used in both ancient and modern times to emphasize a teaching, specifically statements are made (A, B) and then the concept is repeated in reverse order (B, A). A modern day nursery rhyme is a good example: (A)“Old king Cole (B) was a merry old soul (B), a merry old soul (A) was he.” An example of an ABCCBA chiasmus is found in Matt 6:24: (A) “No man can serve two masters.” (B)“He will hate one” (C) “and love the other.” (C) “He will be devoted to one (B) and despise the other.” (A) “It is impossible to serve both God and Money.” A chiasmus can be found in one verse, a group of verses, a group of chapters or even a whole manuscript.

Observation

Perhaps we have erroneously tried to blend the gospels into one unit instead of regarding them as separate theological works. Trying to harmonize them becomes a theological nightmare. The writers did not envision their work being copied or distributed to other audiences (Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14); nor could they have predicted that their texts would be combined into one volume. Note: This would have been true of the letters as well (Col 4:16; Rev 1:3). Few people were literate and fewer still would have had a copy of a gospel. Rather these works were read and discussed in public gatherings. I will pursue these thoughts with the New Testament letters in following posts.

ENDNOTES:

1. A triad is composed of a passion statement, misunderstanding by the disciples, and corrective teaching by Jesus.

New Eyes on the New Testament Pt.1

June 27, 2017 By Jerry Jones 11 Comments

Restudying the Gospels and the Letters

I. Fundamental Issues

Introduction:
In my early years as a disciple, I saw the Bible as a debater’s handbook. My preaching was mainly topical and I looked for scriptures that would answer what I perceived to be misinterpretations of the text by others. Years of study and maturity have convinced me that the Bible was not written for that purpose. I realize now that my method of seeking the truths within the text was very shallow. It has not been until more recent years that I have developed a more honest way of understanding scripture. Seeking the truths within the pages of the biblical text has been challenging and is a continuing process. My goal in the next several blog entries is to outline some considerations that have been very helpful to me on my quest. Perhaps they will be to you as well.

A. Inspiration

Initially, I want to emphasize that I choose to believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and is the nearest thing to the breath of God I know. Just as I accept but cannot understand how Jesus could be both divine and human, I believe scripture is a result of both divine and human involvement. I am willing by faith to accept the claims of scripture in respect to inspiration, the Holy Spirit’s influence on men of God, and the guidance Jesus promised (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21; John 14:26). But that is the extent of my human understanding. It would be presumptuous of me to surmise how much the divine was involved in the version of the Bible I have today.

B. Translation

The involvement of humans in the construction of our present day Bible presents several challenges. We do not have any of the original texts of the New Testament, but only copies of copies created by scribes. These are called variants. For example, Jesus spoke in Aramaic, the writers recorded his teachings in Greek and scribes made copies of their recordings. Later scribes copied the copies they received (1). Sometimes the scribes made human errors, changed wording, and even added materials (Acts 8:37; 1 John 5:8 and possibly Mark 16:9-20; John 7:53-8:11). As a result numerous copies of the texts existed in the ancient world. Approximately 5000 partial Greek manuscripts of New Testament text have survived to the present day. Textual criticism is the comparison of these variants to create what is considered the most accurate copy of the original manuscript. It stands to reason that our copies of the synoptic gospels do not always agree on events, chronology, and arrangement of materials (2).

Centuries after their composition the gospels were brought together in one book, the codex. Prior to the Reformation Movement, the Latin version of the variants was used to create other translations. However during the Reformation, Erasmsus combined the Greek variants into one manuscript called the Textus Receptus. As a result, many English translations were produced. The King James Version is a comparison of these different translations. When the Westcott-Hort Greek text was created in 1881, it replaced Erasmus’s work. In 1901 Koine Greek was recognized and during the 20th century numerous English translations were composed. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls a new Textus Receptus called the Nestle-Aland was written. In recent times this text has under gone several revisions.

To a large degree the man in the pew is at the mercy of the textual critics who have tried to determine the best Greek texts from the many variants and the translators’ understanding of the resulting texts. With so many variables it can be conceded that no translation is a flawless rendering of the original text. Certainly the deficiencies of the KJV and other translations have created a number of problems (3).

The final result of all the New Testament writings is God’s communication with his creation through fallen and sometimes uneducated vessels. Just as he did with the Torah (2 Tim 3:16) (4) and regardless of the discrepancies, God guided the original writers’ objectives to provide the needed message. In spite of different recordings of the same events, dissimilarities in vocabulary, the lack of eye-witness accounts, the transmission of the synoptic gospels by scribes, and the creation of a proper Greek text and its translation into English, we acknowledge that in some way God used the divine to provide direction to the apex of his creation.

C. Historical and Cultural Background

Because the New Testament was not constructed in an historical vacuum, it is beneficial to consider the Greco-Roman world from 400 BCE through the first century. Having some understanding of this period makes interpreting the textual references to government, customs, religious factions and practices in Judea and the surrounding areas easier. LeMoine Lewis observed the following:

“Each book in the New Testament was produced in a particular historical context and first spoke to that situation and its problems. If the student of the New Testament wishes to receive anything approaching the fullness of its riches, he must master as much as possible of the history that is relevant…the more the modern reader looks back and knows of history, the better tuned his mind will be to catch the message of the New Testament for that time and for this.” (5)

During this time the Jews were not a homogenous group. Several different sects existed among them including the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Herodians. Regardless of their differences however, they all the held to Torah and the function of the synagogue. This is seen throughout the gospels and Acts.

The Jews also shared basic beliefs that had sustained them through the centuries. From 722 BCE the Jewish people had been subject to exile and rule of foreign nations. Deeply imbedded in their minds was the hope of freedom. Two ideas controlled their view of the future. (1) They believed they were the elect and chosen people of God, and (2) they believed the one God who controlled the world would save them as he had done in the past history of Israel. This confidence in a redeeming God formed their views of eschatology or beliefs about the end of time. Consider the example of Paul and his view of an imminent return of Jesus. If a new convert in Corinth had read only one letter from him, he would have concluded the Lord would return in his lifetime (1 Corinthians 1:7; 3:13; 4:5; 5:5; 7:29, 31; 15:50-57; 16:22.) Paul’s later letters show a different attitude. In Phil 1:23 he mentioned being with the Lord before his return. References to an early return of Jesus can also be found in writings of John, James and Peter (Jam 5:8; 1 John 2:28; 1 Peter 5:4). (6)

Historically we must also acknowledge that we do not have all the writings by the apostle Paul. Two and possibility three letters by him are missing (Col 4:16; 1 Cor 5:9; 2 Cor 2:3). (7) We only have hints regarding other communication. His directives regarding marriage 1 Corinthians allude to a present distress (7:27), which quite possibly influenced his response. Historical information confirms the prediction by Agabus (Acts 11:26) that Macedonia area was experiencing a famine during this period of time. If that were the case, providing for a family would be challenging.

Understanding the culture of the Jewish and Greco/Roman worlds is equally important. Consider the following three examples: One, in the Greco/Roman world a couple was divorced if either party walked out of the marriage. No divorce certificate was required unless money was involved. Incestuous marriages were possible. Because the wife was considered the property of her husband in the Jewish world, only the husband could obtain the divorce. Incestuous marriages were forbidden (Lev 20:11-21). Second, Gentiles could eat meat offered to idols because consuming blood and the meat of strangled animals was acceptable. This was not the case in Jewish culture (Acts 15:29). Most Christian activity took place in houses and the Jews regarded eating as an expression of fellowship. Sharing a meal of questionable food was an issue for Jewish Christians (Gal 2:11). Third, Jesus asked a question: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” (Matt 7:9) Ancient people heated their ovens with hot stones, therefore both bread and stones would be in the oven. (8)

For an extensive examination of the world of Jesus, I would suggest Backgrounds of Early Christianity (third edition)] by Everett Ferguson. In following blog entries I will address the exegetical issues in understanding the gospels and letters of the New Testament.

ENDNOTES:

A scribe helped write at least some of Paul’s letters (Gal 6:11; Rom 16:22). Tertius felt free to add his own greeting to the church in Rome. Paul felt free to insert personal requests (2 Tim 4:13).
Two of the synoptic writers (Mark and Luke) were not eyewitnesses to the accounts they recorded. The source of their information could have been their own investigation (Luke 1:1-4) other people (Peter and Paul).
Rom 3:23; Phil 3:9; Gal 2:15-16; 1 Cor 7:28-29; Mal 2:16.
Ps 19:7-9 Torah is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure and sure. Ps 19:12-13a. Humans have errors, faults and willful sins, but without them man can be blameless (Ps 19:13b).
Furman Kearley, Edward P. Myers and Timothy D. Hadley, eds. Biblical Interpretation: Principles and Practice (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1986), 244-45.
Jude 24; Heb 12:28; Acts 1:9-11. See Phil 1:6; 3:20; 4:5; Rom 13:11-12; Col 3:4; Titus 2:13; 1 Tim 6:14 1 Thess 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 5:23).
Paul was shipwrecked more times than recorded in scripture (2 Cor 11:25).
Sometimes a literal translation of words does not communicate the accurate meaning of a text.

The Occasional Nature of the Pauline Letters

April 12, 2017 By Jerry Jones 3 Comments

Even though 21st century readers of the New Testament letters usually find them bound in one volume, it is erroneous to assume they were written with that purpose—as a part of the whole. The writers of these letters did not realize their writings would eventually be combined with additional letters and other literary treatises by various authors. These combined versions did not appear until centuries after they were individually penned. Each New Testament letter was written to a specific audience and with a specific purpose in mind (1). The following observations will be limited to the letters of Paul with special attention given to 1 Corinthians.

Written about 56 CE, Galatians and 1 Thessalonians were Paul’s earliest letters. He had established churches in Galatia and his letter indicates a false gospel was being circulated among some of them. This “occasion” necessitated the need for the Galatian Christians to better understand the true gospel (Gal 1:6-9). The occasion of the Thessalonian letters is not as easy to determine although their content indicates confusion regarding Jesus’s return.

Unlike the Christians in Galatia and Thessalonica, the churches in Rome and Colossae did not personally know Paul. This fact alone makes his letters to them unique (Col 2:1-3; Rom 1:11; 15:23-29). The edict of Claudius had been overturned, consequently Jewish Christians had returned to Rome and a mostly Gentile church. This merger was creating friction and Paul was concerned about division. The church in Rome needed to be united because Paul planned to use it as a support base for his future evangelistic efforts in Spain (15:24). These future plans “occasioned” him to write Romans—a letter intended to help the Jewish and Gentile Christians better understand the implications of the gospel and in so doing create harmony in the church (1:14-16).

Paul obtained information from Epaphras that a false teaching was invading the Colossian church (1:7). This “occasioned” the need for a counter and Paul’s letter to the Colossians was his response. The exact nature of this teaching is unknown, but from Paul’s words it is safe to assume it included convincing arguments (2:4), angel worship (2:18), religious days (2:16), false humility (2:23), harsh treatment of the body (2:23), human tradition (2:8), and deceptive philosophy (2:8). Paul’s rebuttal to all of these issues was the nature and work of Christ (1:15-3:4).

The targeted audience of the letter to the Ephesians is vague, but scholarship generally places its destination as the churches up and down the Lycus valley. Apparently Paul had not personally interacted with the Christians in these locations because this letter lacks the personal references of his other letters and he states that he had “heard” of their faith. This would not have been the case if the letter were intended only for the church in Ephesus. He had previously spent three years with the Ephesian church (Eph 1:15) and knew their elders (Acts 20:31). The Ephesian letter was “occasioned” by the need to encourage spiritual development among these churches. This is demonstrated by Paul’s use of the indicative (who you are) in chapters 1-3 followed by his use of the imperative (how you should live) in chapters 4-6.

The church at Philippi can be considered Paul’s “sweetheart” church because of its faithful support of his evangelistic work (4:15-16). However some of the members were not getting along (4:1-2), and the church was experiencing division and selfishness (2:3). Apparently this letter was “occasioned” by a divided church. Paul addressed still another issue in chapter three—too much self-confidence. Because Philippi was a community for retired Romans, this could have easily been an issue. To resolve the two-fold “occasional” problem of this church—selfishness and self-confidence, Paul admonished the Philippian Christians to adopt the attitude of Christ (2:5) and to strive to know him (3:10).

Philemon is Paul’s shortest letter. It was “occasioned” by Paul’s desire to reunite a runaway slave with his Christian owner (1:19). Onesimus had stolen from Philemon and after converting the guilty slave, Paul offered to reimburse the stolen money to Philemon as part of the reconciliation process.

Perhaps 2 Corinthians is the most difficult of Paul’s letters to classify, in part because it lacks the continuity found in his other writings (2). Quite possibly it is a compilation of several of his letters. Within this treatise Paul provided a strong defense of his ministry (2:12-6:13) and gave instruction concerning a future collection (8:1-9:15).

The pastoral letters, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, were “occasioned” by Paul’s desire to offer direction to two young evangelists serving churches in Ephesus and Crete. He dealt with the appointment of church leaders, issues facing the churches, godly behavior, and the spiritual well being of Timothy and Titus (1 Tim 3:1-15; Titus 1:5-9). He also made some personal requests of Timothy (2 Tim 4:13).

Judging from its wording, 1 Corinthians appears to be the most “occasioned” letter of all of Paul’s writings because it is a direct response to information he had obtained from Chloe and the questions he had been asked (1:11). It reflects not only Paul’s personal perceptions and beliefs but also peripheral issues influencing the church. At the time of his writing, the church was experiencing the challenges of a present crisis—most probably a famine (7:26), and an extremely immoral society (7:2). Shadowing all of Paul’s responses were his views of eschatology (7:29, 31) and his belief that the single life style was best for every Christian (7:32-35) (3). Prior to answering the questions beginning in 7:1, Paul was confident in his directives. He instructed the church to be united (1:10-15), and attributed their division to a lack of spirituality (3:1-23). He provided directions regarding an immoral man (5:1-5) and lawsuits among Christians (6:1-8). He took a strong stance against immorality (6:9-20). His answers to the questions of 8:1, 12:1, 16:1 and 16:12 carry the tone of a confident inspired apostle, (4) and in 14:37 he emphasized his teachings were not his own, but the Lord’s command.

Paul’s answers to the questions in chapter 7 show a tentativeness not seen in any of his other responses, (5) nor in any of his other letters. Only in this chapter does he declare he has no information from the Lord and will rely on his own judgment to provide instruction for mixed marriages, virgins, and widows. (6) Significantly, Paul’s teachings on sexuality and marriage are limited by the questions he received and the time the letter was penned. In no way should I Cor 7 be regarded as his complete theology on the topic. For example, the instruction Paul gave the widows in 7:8 and 7:40 is not the same instruction he gave widows in 1 Tim 5:14. The “occasion” that prompted the writing of 1 Timothy did not include the “occasion” of a present crisis and Paul’s belief in the imminent coming of Jesus.

By acknowledging and attempting to understand the circumstances that occasioned Paul’s letters, we can better understand his teachings. We can also gain a better grasp of the issues that were facing individual churches in the first century world.

Footnotes:

1. Colossians 4:16 is an exception. The synoptic gospel writers did not envision their letters being copied, but only read (Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14). Reading was a part of the synagogue service (Acts 13:15; Luke 4:16; 1 Tim 4:13).

2. See Appendix D Arrangement of 2 Corinthians. Jerry Jones, Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage: Seen through the Character of God and the Mind of Jesus. (Joplin: College Press, 2016),160.

3. The Torah did not support Paul’s view of singleness (Gen 2:18; Ps 127:3-5; 1 Sam 1:9-11).

4. Paul appealed to the teachings of Jesus in defending the support of preachers (9:14). In answering a question about the Lord’s Supper, Paul emphasized his teaching was “received from the Lord” and was not his own judgment (11:23).

5. “I say,” “I think,” “I wish,” “what I mean” and “I would like” are examples of his tentativeness. In an apparent hesitation or even lack of confidence in his teaching, he claimed trustworthiness (7:25) and possession of the Spirit of God (7:40). Twice Paul said he had no information from the Lord (7:12, 25) and was providing his judgment (7:25, 40).

6. 7:12; 7:25; 7:40.

The Occasional Nature of Paul’s Evangelistic Efforts

March 21, 2017 By Jerry Jones 5 Comments

Paul was very definitive regarding his purpose and methodology in ministry:

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Cor 9:19-23).

In the 1^st century CE three boundary markers: circumcision, food laws, and the Sabbath (1), distinctly separated the Jewish and Gentile worlds. While these distinctions had existed for centuries, they did not become problematic until Paul’s mission efforts in the Greco-Roman world produced Gentile converts. The book of Acts chronicles these struggles (Acts 13:49; 14:2, 21). Even though Peter believed the promise of salvation was for everyone, (Acts 2:39) he was personally hesitant to go to the God-fearing household of Cornelius (Acts 10: 9-23). Subsequently, he had to defend his choice to his Jewish brothers (Acts 11:1-18). Even later he had difficulty fellowshipping non-Jewish converts in Antioch (Gal 2:11-12). Eventually the problem created by integrating Jews with non-Jewish converts escalated and necessitated the need for the Jerusalem conference of Acts 15. This conference concluded with the construction of a letter based on the holiness code of Leviticus (Leviticus 17-26). Meant to disarm the varying schools of thought it was sent to Gentile Christians in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:23).

Paul was the undisputed leader in taking the gospel to the Greco-Roman world (Acts 9:15; 13:36). We have an account of two rather lengthy ministries with Greco-Roman churches. He worked with the church in Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31) and the church in Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:11). While it is impossible to know the entirety of his teaching to the Corinthians, we do know they sent questions to Paul after his departure. Specifically they were concerned with how, as Christians, they should relate to the world around them and how they should conduct themselves among other Christians. One of the questions centered on eating meat as forbidden by the Holiness code of Leviticus and the conference letter (1 Cor 8:1). In a masterful way, Paul shifted the focus from specifics to the overall objective—sharing the gospel. His approach to evangelism was his willingness to adapt himself to others for the salvation of the lost (1 Cor 9:19-23).

In three examples Paul demonstrated his willingness to modify his teaching and his actions to fit an “occasion.” The first example focused on Christians and the Jewish food laws. Under normal conditions Paul would have supported the directions of the Jerusalem conference letter regarding the food laws in Judaism (Acts 15:29). However, in response to their question about eating meat offered to idols, he told them there were “two occasions” where it would be permissible: (1) if meat was bought in the market place, the Christian should not ask questions about its origin (1 Cor 10:25); and (2) if an unbeliever invited a Christian to eat meat with him, the Christian was not to ask about the origin of the meat (1 Cor 10:27).

In the second example Paul adapted his teaching on circumcision to fit an “occasion”. The Jerusalem conference had made it clear that circumcision was not a salvation issue and should not be required of Gentile converts. Paul supported this stance in his letter to the Galatian churches (Gal 5:6, 12), using uncircumcised Titus as an example (Gal 2:1-5). He also argued against the merit of circumcision in his instruction that the Corinthians remain in the state they were called (1 Cor 7:19). When Paul decided to convert Jews, Timothy accompanied him. On this “occasion” he ordered Timothy be circumcised (Acts 16:3) so that he would be effective in converting Jews.

In the third example Paul adapted his activities to fit an “occasion” in his reaction to criticism. He went to Jerusalem to visit James and the elders and reported the success of the Gentile ministry. James and the elders applauded the success of this ministry (Acts 21:17-20), however there was concern that Paul was teaching the Jews who lived among the converted Gentiles to turn away from Torah (Acts 21:21). This criticism might not have been justifiable, so in order to preserve Paul’s credibility, the Jerusalem church leaders told Paul to pay the purification expenses of four men (Exod 29:37; Lev 12:2-8; 13:6; Num 19:14). By this action, Paul would prove the reports untrue and verify that he was “living in obedience to the law” (Acts 21:24). Because Paul had been involved with Gentiles some might have thought him “unclean” (Acts 21:26). Consequently Paul not only paid the requested amount, he joined in the purification rites. He felt the “occasion” demanded he join in the purification rites and, in so doing, supported the teaching of Torah. Paul’s personal involvement demonstrated his respect for the law.

Conclusion

Even though other illustrations of the occasional nature of scripture are threaded throughout the New Testament, these three examples underscore Paul’s evangelistic approach: I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

Footnotes:

1 The Sabbath and special days like Pentecost were important to Paul (1 Cor 16:8). His visits to the synagogue on the Sabbath could have been for both evangelistic purposes and his personal respect for observing the Sabbath (Acts 13:5, 14; 16:13; 17:2, 10; 18:7).

2 Peter’s response in Acts 10:14 showed the importance of eating and associating with non-Jews.

Conference Goals