CHURCH HISTORY

(Continued from September 1940)

The Labors of the Apostle of the Gentiles

The man Paul, who with Barnabas labored at Antioch, was ordained by the Lord to carry his name before the gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.

The labor of this faithful servant of Christ has been of such magnitude that he could unhesitatingly say that he labored more than all the others, but in all humbleness he adds, “Yet not I, but the grace of God that is in me.”

While Paul, with other teachers and prophets ministered to the Lord at Antioch, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work whereunto I have called them.” After prayer and fasting, the Church laid their hands upon both ordained Missionaries, and allowed them to depart to carry out the important work, to which the Lord Himself had appointed them. A young Christian of Jerusalem, John Mark, by name, went with them as companion and servant. The report of this first Missionary tour we find in Acts 13 & 14. The Apostles went first to the island of Cyprus, Barnabas’ native land, and preached the Gospel not only to the Jews that dwelled there, but also before the Governor, Sergius Paulus, and with blessed results. After that the Lord had crowned their labors in the island with His blessing, the Gospel messengers embarked for Asia Minor, and delivered the tidings of Salvation at Antioch in Pisidia (which is not to be confused with Antioch in Syria, from whence they had set out), at Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Wherever they met Jews they first delivered the Word of God to them, but by the most of them they usually met with proud contempt and opposition, and not seldom even persecution. However, so much the more joyfully did the Gentiles receive the Gospel, and in every city where the messengers of peace had labored, a small congregation of believers was founded. After many difficulties and dangers, but gladdened and strengthened by the blessing which God had commanded upon their labors, the Apostles returned to Antioch, and related to the church, what great things the Lord had done by them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Some time after their return, there arose a serious contention in the church. Some of the Jewish Christians from Judea had come to Antioch, and had taught there, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye can not be saved.” This statement was strongly opposed by Paul and Barnabas, but since they could not agree, the church at Antioch decided to submit this important question to the judgment of the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem, and therefore they sent Paul and Barnabas and several others thither. When the Apostles at Jerusalem had been enlightened about this matter, they met with the Elders. At this meeting, the first Ecclesiastical meeting or Synod, Paul and Barnabas submitted a report of their Mission work among the Gentiles. There arose great contention at this assembly about the question as to whether the converted Gentiles should observe the circumcision of the Law of Moses. Peter held, that the Gentiles should not be burdened with the yoke of the Law. James, who was held in high esteem by the Jews because of his strict adherence to the Law, fully agreed with Peter and confirmed it from the Scriptures. He proposed that the Christians of the Gentiles should have no other burden placed upon them, than the keeping of the Noachitish commandments; namely, that they should abstain from that which had been strangled and from fornication. This proposal received the approbation of the whole church at Jerusalem, and two men out of their midst were delegated to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, and to deliver to the believers at that place the answer of the Apostles. No wonder that the Christians at Antioch rejoiced because of the comforting letter from the church at Jerusalem, whereby this difficult point of difference was so easily settled.

In the year 53, Paul started on his second Missionary tour, with this object especially, to visit those churches which he had founded during his first tour, and to strengthen them in their faith. This tour, which lasted about three years, we find described in Acts 15:36; 18:22. Paul’s companion on this journey was Silas, a young Christian teacher from Jerusalem. After that the Apostle had visited the previously founded churches, he traveled farther, to proclaim everywhere the glad tidings, and thus he came to the province of Galatia. In that region was a German settlement, which three centures before had migrated from the regions of the Rhine and from Gaul or France. The Galatians received the Gospel with great joy, who as it were, carried the Apostles on their hands. (Gal. 4:14, 15)

By a special revelation, the Lord directed His servant to the continent of Europe, as a new field of labor, and soon Paul, accompanied by his coworkers Silas and Timothy, beside Luke the physician, arrived at Macedonia, and Philippi was the first city were God’s Word was preached. At Thessalonica, the capital of Macedonia, a flourishing church was founded, which was full of faith and zeal for the truth. When Paul, because of persecutions by his enemies was compelled to leave that region, he appeared before a distinguished audience on Mars Hill, or the Areopagus at Athens, and preached the unknown God to them. And neither here, nor elsewhere, was his preaching without success.

During the space of a year and six months, he continued in the great merchant city Corinth, and preached Christ to Jews and Gentiles, while he worked at tent making to supply his daily bread. In this city his faithful co-workers, Silas and Timothy, joined him again, who also brought him information with respect to conditions of the church at Thessalonica. Paul had not been able to complete his instructions in that city, and therefore there were some points of doctrine, about which those simple Christians had not enough light, such as the return of the Lord and the resurrection from the dead. For that reason the Apostle wrote his first epistle to the church at Thessalonica, which was soon followed by a second one. Both epistles are full of valuable instructions, exhortations and consolations.

Following a brief visit to Ephesus, he journeyed to Jerusalem after which he returned to Antioch. But his rest was of short duration. In the year 57 the zealous messenger of God again took up his staff and commenced his third missionary tour. First he visited the churches which he founded before, “strengthening all the disciples,” after which he came to the large poulous city of Ephesus, famous for its trade and its beautiful temple, devoted to the goddess Diana. He continued in this metropolis for the space of two years, which were abundantly blessed, for God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul, (Acts 19:11) and so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. (vs. 20). While at Ephesus, he wrote an epistle to the Galatians and to the church at Corinth. In both those churches much had happened which deeply grieved the Apostle. False, Judaizing teachers had come to the cities of Galatia, who cast suspicion on the apostleship of Paul, and declared that the Galatians had to submit to circumcision, and keep the whole law of Moses, if they would be partakers of the Kingdom of Christ. Their words had found a much too ready entrance with those simple Christians, and therefore Paul wrote an epistle to them, in which he vehemently defended his Apostleship. He told them that Christ shall profit them nothing who would be justified by the Law and explained: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherein Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Gal. 5:1.)

At Corinth, conditions were also sad. Not only had different parties arisen in the church, but chaos, abominable sins and heresies were prevalent; there were even those who denied the resurrection. Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians is rich in solemn warnings, but also in precious instructions concerning the Lord’s Supper, the various gifts of the Spirit, love and the hope of the resurrection from the dead. Who does not reflect here on the beautiful description of the Resurrection in the 15th chapter, and on the beautiful Psalm of Love in chapter 13.

In the spring of the year 60 the Apostle left Ephesus and journed to Macedonia, to go from thence to Corinth.

He had already sent Timothy, his co-worker thence, to acquaint htm with the present conditions at Corinth, and what impression the first Epistle had made on the believers. In Macedonia Timothy again joined his fatherly instructor, and brought him the necessary information. Paul learned that his earnest epistle had made a profound and blessed impression. A true sorrow after God had been caused, and many errors had been rectified; however his enemies continued to cast suspicion on him. This caused him to write his second epistle to the Corinthians, in which sorrowing ones were comforted, but the obstinate and unbelievers were strongly reprimanded. This epistle is remarkable for its summarizing of that which the apostle had to endure for the Gospel’s sake. (2 Cor. 11:23-28)

Not long after, he himself visited Corinth, and abode there three months. At that time a certain Deaconess, Phebe by name, made preparations to travel to Rome, at which place was a flourishing Church of Christ, about whose origin no historical records are preserved.

Paul grasped this opportunity to give her a letter addressed to the Christians at Rome. In this beautiful epistle he describes the way of salvation very extensively, so that this epistle contains the pith of the Gospel.

From Corinth the Apostle journeyed to Jerusalem, where he was made prisoner. After being held a prisoner for two years at Cesarea, where he preached the gospel to king and governor, he was sent to Rome, because he had appealed to Ceasar, to escape the lying in wait of the Jews. It was in the year 63, that as prisoner he trod the streets of the metropolis, but neither did the good hand of his God forsake him here. “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” (Acts 28:30, 31)

Not only did the great Apostle of the Gentiles labor with the word during the years of his imprisonment, but he also used his well-trimmed pen, to teach, to exhort and to comfort, for he could not forget his beloved friends in the East. During his forced stay at Rome, he wrote the epistle to Philemon, besides the epistles to the churches at Colosse, at Ephesus and at Philippi.

Philemon was a Christian at Colosse, whose slave, Onesimus, had escaped. This runaway slave became acquainted with Paul at Rome and became a believing Christian. The Apostle sent him back to his master, with a letter of recommendation, to prepare a good reception with Philemon for the servant who had now become a beloved brother.

Although faithful, the church at Colosee, which was founded by Epaphras, a co-worker of Paul, was in great danger to depart from the right way of truth because of false teachers. For that reason the Apostle exhorts in this epistle to increase in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were hid.

Was Paul privileged to preach the gospel in the important city Ephesus for two years, he now sent to the church at that place a beautiful epistle to establish the believers in the faith. He calls their attention to the great privilege they enjoyed, reminds them of their deplorable state in which they formerly were, but exhorts them also earnestly to put off the old man, and to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Eph. 4:22-24)

Finally he exhorts them to charity, teaches them that they are mutually indebted one to another in the various relations in which the Lord had placed them towards each other, and closes with the exhortation to fight the spiritual warfare, and to put on the heavenly armor.

The Christians at Philippi had not forgotten the beloved Apostle, who had preached the way of salvation to them, but they had sent him money, to ease his imprisonment. Paul was very much affected by this token of love. In his epistle he thanks them for what they had done for him, exhorts them to keep themselves faithfully to God’s Word, warns them against the Judaizing and quarrelsome teachers, and concludes with a universal exhortation to joy, moderation and prayer, besides a recommendation of all that which can adorn a Christian.

There is no certain information concerning the last years of the Apostle Paul’s life. The Holy Scriptures conclude the story of the labors of the Apostle with the declaration that as prisoner he dwelt two years in Rome in his own hired house.

Whereas some believe that he died a martyr’s death at the end of those two years, others declare that for some years after his imprisonment he has filled his Apostolic office, and not only remembered and served the churches in the East, but that even in Spain he preached the Gospel. From the latter part of his active and stormy life, we have the epistles to the Hebrews, Titus and Timothy.

Although the epistle to the Hebrews may not have been written by the Apostle himself, it was nevertheless under his direct supervision. The main object of this epistle is to point out the glory of the new dispensation above that of the old, and no less the excellency of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Da Costa says very beautifully, “The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews, platted a crown of glory for Christ from the Psalms.”

In addition to this Paul wrote epistles to Titus and Timothy. The first labored at Crete; the other at Ephesus. These epistles contain instructions for young preachers, and at the same time for the church, how that all things are to be done to the glory of God, in order that the Christian life may grow and increase.

When Paul wrote his second epistle to Timothy, he was again in prison, and expected death daily. The object of writing was to inform his beloved pupil Timothy of his condition, and to request him to come soon so that he might receive the last instruction of the aged Apostle. Since he did not know whether he would still be alive when Timothy came, he gave him much advice, many hints and encouragements in this epistle, to continue in the faithful fulfilment of his duty as pastor and teacher.

The great Apostle of the Gentiles describes very beautifully his approaching martyrdom, when he says: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearance.” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

Not many months after he penned this epistle, he was beheaded during the persecutions under Nero.

Surely, to this faithful and zealous laborer in the vineyard of the Lord apply the beautiful words from the prophecies of Daniel: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3)

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