Some Key Words (1/29/01-1/30/01)

Host (xenos [3581]):

a foreigner or stranger, one without knowledge of or share in, unheard of, new, one who receives and entertains another; foreign, a guest or an entertainer

Church (ekklesia [1577]):

the congregation of those called out, the Church universal, or a church within the Church; a public gathering of citizens, the assembly of the Israelites, any gathering of men, Christians gathered for worship, a congregation gathered to hold their own religious meetings and to manage their own affairs in regard to Christianity, an assembly of faithful Christians - local or universal, earthly or already received into heaven; a popular meeting, a religious congregation - Jewish or Christian, a community of Christians on earth or saints in heaven or both

 

Paraphrase: (1/29/01)

21 I send greetings from my coworker Timothy, as well as my countrymen Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. 22 Tertius, who writes this letter, greets you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who has been host to me, and indeed to the whole church, sends greetings, as do Erastus, the treasurer of the city, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, be with you all. Amen.

Key Verse: (1/29/01)

16:21 - My fellow worker greets you.

People Mentioned: (1/29/01)

Timothy

Son of a Jewish Christian mother, and a Greek non-believing father in Lystra (Ac 16:1). Companion to Paul and Silas, remaining in Berea with Silas as Paul went to Athens, until Paul sent for them (Ac 17:14-15). Their arrival allowed Paul to devote himself to witnessing (Ac 18:5). Paul later sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, while he headed towards Jerusalem by way of Asia (Ac 19:22). Timothy, along with Gaius of Derbe and others, accompanied Paul into Macedonia from Ephesus (Ac 20:4). He was sent to Corinth by Paul (1Co 4:17), to carry on the Lord's work (1Co 16:10). As a coworker in Corinth, Timothy joins Paul in later greetings to the same (2Co 1:1). His preaching there, as well as that of Silvanus, had been the same gospel as Paul (2Co 1:19). Timothy also joined Paul in greeting the Philippians (Php 1:1), to whom Paul thought to send him (Php 2:19). Also, he greets the Colossians (Col 1:1), and the Thessalonians (1Th 1:1, 2Th 1:1), where he is again associated with Silvanus. He had already been to Thessalonica at the time these letters were written (1Th 3:2), returning with a good report of their faith (1Th 3:6). He was a most trusted coworker of Paul's (1Ti 1:2, 1Ti 1:18, 1Ti 6:20, 2Ti 1:2). He is also represented in the letter to Philemon (Phm 1). He was apparently imprisoned at some point (Heb 13:23).

Lucius

A member of the church at Antioch, which originally sent Paul out. He is noted among their prophets and teachers, another citizen of Cyrene (Ac 13:1).

Jason

Citizen of Thessalonica, who was dragged from his house by the Jewish mob for supporting Paul and Silas (Ac 17:5-9).

Sosipater

Not otherwise noted by this name. Could possibly be the Sopater of Berea who was with Paul and Timothy through Macedonia (Ac 20:4).

Tertius

Unknown elsewhere in scripture.

Gaius

A travelling companion (along with Aristarchus) of Paul in Macedonia. These two were dragged to the amphitheater in Ephesus by angry artificers (Ac 19:29). Also noted in Ac 20:4, as being in the company that returned through Macedonia with Paul. Baptized by Paul in Corinth (1Co 1:14). Noted as an elder by John (3Jn 1) [which study, see for more thoughts on Gaius.]

Erastus

Sent with Timothy to minister in Macedonia (Ac 19:22), and later left at Corinth when Paul departed (2Ti 4:20).

Quartus

no further mention.

 

Some Parallel Verses (1/30/01)

16:21

Ac 16:1 - Timothy, born to Jewish mother and Greek father, joined Paul as a disciple in Lystra. Ac 13:1 - Lucius was a Cyrene who was a prophet and teacher in Antioch, from whence Paul was sent a missionary. Ac 17:5 - Jason was dragged before the authorities for housing Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. Ac 20:4 - Sosipater (also called Sopater) was a Berean who accompanied Paul in Macedonia. Ro 9:3 - Paul was exceeding anxious that his kinsmen the Jews might be saved.

16:22

1Co 16:21 - Paul notes that he penned the greeting himself, implying that the remainder of the letter had been dictated to another, who goes unnamed. Gal 6:11 - The letter to the Galatians, he apparently wrote himself. Col 4:18 - The letter to the Colossians was also penned by an unnamed other, with Paul authenticating it by his personal signature, 2Th 3:17 - which he notes is the validating mark of any true letter of his. [Apparently, he was already being plagued by forgeries.] Phm 19 - Here, again, he writes in his own hand to validate the letter, all the more important for this particular missive.

16:23

Ac 19:29 - Gaius and Aristarchus were dragged before the authorities by the artificers of Ephesus. Ac 20:4 - These two, along with Timothy and Sopater and others, returned to Macedonia with Paul. 1Co 1:14 - Gaius was baptized by Paul in Corinth. Ac 19:22 - Erastus was sent with Timothy to minister in Macedonia, while Paul remained in Ephesus. 2Ti 4:20 - Erastus remained in Corinth when Paul left there.

16:24

 

New Thoughts (1/31/01)

What strikes me above all, in this section, is the way the early Church was networked. Here's something we in the church of this age are still trying to learn again. But, looking at who was with Paul in Corinth when this letter was written, we see men representing every step he had taken to date. And, we see men who would be important in the work yet to come. We have here men who were part of the commissioning of Paul for his mission in the first place. We see many who were drawn to Christ by his ministry, who had already experienced hardships because of this newfound faith, and yet held firm. How is this so? It's not because of Paul, as excellent a teacher as he surely was. A teaching will not hold you through the hard spots. Excellent preaching will not, in itself, give strength to faith and convictions. What gave these men their steel was a personal encounter with their Christ. Paul may have introduced them, but unless they had met the Lord who is their Savior, it would have been the words of any other rabbi or magician - depending on what drew their attention. But, as we saw with Simon the Cyrene a few days ago, it's that personal encounter that changes everything. The impact of meeting your God soul to soul cannot but change your viewpoint, cannot but change your life. Such a meeting cannot be argued away by the most eloquent atheist, or the most devout follower of any other false religion. Such a meeting cannot be dulled in memory by the severest of trials. Such a meeting, such intimate acquaintance with the Lord of Lords has brought followers throughout the ages to defy the torments of death slow and foul rather than deny their God. It has led to a people of such faith as can not and will not let go of their love of Christ for any amount of pain or grief that may come their way; can not and will not forget their Lord for any piles of pleasure and wealth that may come their way. It's that intimate encounter that gave Paul to understand the mystery of being content in plenty or in want. It's that intimate encounter that is reflected in the wedding vows when we promise to be faithful in sickness or in health.

Christ is coming for a bride. The wedding has been arranged, and the vows have been spoken in advance. He has paid the dowry, a greater price than any prince or king ever paid for the most valuable of brides. He has spoken, and demonstrated by concrete actions, His love for His intended. She in turn has declared her faithfulness, but has it been so? Too many of us today have learned to treat vows lightly. Too many of us have accepted the dowry without truly having met our groom. Too many of us are struggling to present a faith that looks good, but is only a show of our own will and effort. Where that faith is in a teaching, in a teacher, in a promise alone, the faith will fail as quickly as its object. Where that faith is a reflection of what must happen in a soul that has been visited by its Maker, nothing will shake it. Father God, I cannot trust my heart in this completely, to know where I stand. I know we have met, You and I. I know how carefully You crafted our meeting so that I could not mistake Your presence. This, nothing can shake, nothing can erase. But have I been faithful to my vows of faithfulness? No, I see that I have not. There has not yet been a day in this new life that I have not failed of Your love in one fashion or another. Oh, Lord! I look upon some of these brothers and sisters that You have blessed me with for this walk, and they scare me, Father. They seem so caught up in inconsequentials, so focused on this benefit or that, and failing to see the great Love that stands behind the gifts. But I know it's equally possible that the nature of the mind You have given me is not given to the same understanding that they have. Perhaps it is I that stand in the wrong. In this, I must trust myself to Your wisdom and Your guidance. And I know I can trust to You in this, as You have shown Yourself trustworthy so often. You have trained me to at least hear Your voice on occasion. I doubt not that I am imperfect in my hearing even yet. But, You know the house You have caused me to dwell in. You know the family You have blessed me with in this house, and You know the peculiar needs of each one of us. Oh, God! If what seems off-kilter and misguided to me is truly on target, correct me. I do not want to come home to You finding I had underrated Your magnificence and Your generosity to Your children. Neither do I wish to find my faith, nor that of my charges shipwrecked on the rocky shores of misunderstanding and false expectations. Grant me, oh my Lord, to lead this little family faithfully in accord with Your ways. Grant me, oh my Lord, the grace and wisdom to teach so that they may understand, to correct with love where it is shown necessary, to lead only on the true path to home.