I confess that I am one of those who have been estranged from the Apostle Paul. Of course, I live in a generation long after his time; but Paul’s Letters in the New Testament have been over my head, as it were.
The Gospel of Mark, for example, has been easy reading; but Paul has not been bedtime reading for me!
And I confess that this has not been good for me spiritually, for the dear Lord is the One who has seen fit to include Paul’s great “Letters” in our New Testament.
The Apostle Peter was long ago aware of my problem for he mentions it in his Second Epistle chapter 3:
“Our beloved brother Paul ... in all of his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood” (2 Peter 3:15, 16).
Peter was in no way an opponent of Paul’s writings; but he frankly recognizes the problems some of us have had with trying to read Paul. And he upholds Paul in that he calls him “our beloved brother.”
But the way the KJV translates Peter here the impression can be gained that dear brother Paul was not an efficient communicator. Anyone who writes or preaches the Gospel of Jesus must make it clear and plain; confusing the Lord’s Gospel and failing to set the feeding trough low enough for us “little ones” to reach it would be almost an unforgivable offense. The last thing you as a preacher or a teacher want to hear from someone it that what you are saying is unintelligible. How would “our beloved brother Paul” feel if he were to read Peter’s comment? Would he feel rebuked?
Well, let’s look at exactly what Peter is saying: the word he uses is “dusnoetos,” which does not mean unclear or over our heads; it means “misperceived.” And it may in no way be a fault on the part of “Brother Paul.” The misconception may be entirely on our part.
Take for example Paul’s Romans chapter 5:15-21:
Paul’s idea is simply that the “much more abounding grace” of Christ is immeasurably beyond the extent of our sin against Him. Paul is obsessed with this “grace,” and happy will we be when we let Paul light our snuffed out tapers with a heart appreciation of that immeasurable “grace.”
Think about it on your knees alone, your door “shut” and worldly things laid aside; you will have the happiest moments of your life.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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