Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Can I say something in defense of the Apostle Paul? He is getting a bad rap with many Christians, even pastors. They virtually malign him, accusing him of writing things that are way over people's heads. The result? Many don't even try to read his Letters in the New Testament. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:13, "There is nothing in [my] letters to you but what you can read for yourselves, and understand" (New English Bible). The Good News Bible says: "We write to you only what you can read and understand." Sounds like Paul claims to be a good communicator! Why would God call him to be an apostle if he couldn't explain the gospel to people clearly? A poor communicator has no business being a preacher or an apostle!
But these anti-Paul critics claim, "Peter says he writes things 'hard to be understood!'" And sure enough in 2 Peter 3:16 the King James Version has Peter complaining about "our beloved brother Paul" that he writes things "hard-to-be-understood." So, "why bother to read Paul? He's over your head!" So say many. And even the Commentary writers chime in and say, yes, that's what Peter says!
Well, the actual one word that Peter uses in 2 Peter 3:16 that is translated "hard-to-be-understood" is DUSNOETOS, the prefix DUS, a negative, and NOETOS which means "perceived" or "understood." The word literally means MISPERCEIVED. Peter goes on to explain himself by adding that superficial readers "wrest" Paul's words, twisting them "unto their own destruction." Clearly, says Peter, the fault is not with Paul's communication skills, but with prejudiced, dishonest reading.
So, let me encourage you to read Paul. He adds in 2 Corinthians 1:14: "Even though you now understand [me] only in part, I hope that you will come to understand [me] completely, so that in the Day of the Lord Jesus you can be as proud of [me] as [I] shall be of you" (GNB; note the editorial "we"). Sounds like you must understand Paul if you will be happy when Jesus returns.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 9, 1998.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
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Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
Can I say something in defense of the Apostle Paul? He is getting a bad rap with many Christians, even pastors. They virtually malign him, accusing him of writing things that are way over people's heads. The result? Many don't even try to read his Letters in the New Testament. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:13, "There is nothing in [my] letters to you but what you can read for yourselves, and understand" (New English Bible). The Good News Bible says: "We write to you only what you can read and understand." Sounds like Paul claims to be a good communicator! Why would God call him to be an apostle if he couldn't explain the gospel to people clearly? A poor communicator has no business being a preacher or an apostle!
But these anti-Paul critics claim, "Peter says he writes things 'hard to be understood!'" And sure enough in 2 Peter 3:16 the King James Version has Peter complaining about "our beloved brother Paul" that he writes things "hard-to-be-understood." So, "why bother to read Paul? He's over your head!" So say many. And even the Commentary writers chime in and say, yes, that's what Peter says!
Well, the actual one word that Peter uses in 2 Peter 3:16 that is translated "hard-to-be-understood" is DUSNOETOS, the prefix DUS, a negative, and NOETOS which means "perceived" or "understood." The word literally means MISPERCEIVED. Peter goes on to explain himself by adding that superficial readers "wrest" Paul's words, twisting them "unto their own destruction." Clearly, says Peter, the fault is not with Paul's communication skills, but with prejudiced, dishonest reading.
So, let me encourage you to read Paul. He adds in 2 Corinthians 1:14: "Even though you now understand [me] only in part, I hope that you will come to understand [me] completely, so that in the Day of the Lord Jesus you can be as proud of [me] as [I] shall be of you" (GNB; note the editorial "we"). Sounds like you must understand Paul if you will be happy when Jesus returns.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 9, 1998.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
>-----------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
