Farewell to Asia

 Tuesday after Trinity Sunday

Justin Martyr's Day (Color: Red)

Lectionary Texts:

OT: 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16

NT: 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

First, let me say thanks to all of you for reading the blog. We had a much better month than last month--542 individual reads in May, compared to 427 in April (which was our lowest month). 

Second, as you read today's OT lectionary text, notice the huge contrast with yesterday's text (1 Samuel 8). 1 Samuel 8 is pro-Saul. It reflects an earlier source (sometimes called the Saul source). 1 Samuel 9:1-10:15 tells the story of Saul's becoming king quite differently, and quite negatively. It's a later source (the Samuel source). The Bible has no trouble including sources with different points of view.

Third, as we move into the long season of Pentecost, also called Ordinary Time, I will start including some Saint's Days, saints I regard as particular important, with a brief word about them. Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) is one of a group of Christian writers of the second and early third centuries who are called the Apologists. The principal thing they all did in their writings was to make Christianity palatable and acceptable to Romans, those very same Romans who were persecuting them. We have three major works from Justin, the First Apology, the Second Apology, and the Dialogue with Trypho, a Jew. Justin is the first Christian writer to  quote from all four gospels. He also quoted extensively from Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher most admired by the Romans. Justin showed how Greek philosophy and Christian theology were compatible. Nonetheless, he suffered martyrdom.

For our Acts Bible Study today please read Acts 20:18-30.

This speech is sometimes called Paul's farewell speech. He is telling the Ephesian church leaders that he will not see them again. He is going to Jerusalem, where he portends persecution and death. He won't die there but will have several more years of productive life, productive even in imprisonment. The theology reflects both Paul's thought and Luke's writing. The key Lucan theme of repentance (it's all over Acts, "Repent, and you will be saved") appears in verse 21. Luke is often said to lack any doctrine of or even understanding of the atonement, yet the concept appears clearly in verse 28, in the words of Paul. The atonement (the idea that Jesus' death on the cross made up for humanity's sin) was not of central importance to Luke, like it was for Paul, but Luke was aware of and did believe in it. For Luke the idea that repentance saves you is more important than the idea that the blood of Jesus saves you. 

Paul warns of false teachers who will come. They do come but more in Galatia than in Asia Minor. Paul also professes very strongly that he earned his own living not by preaching in Ephesus. The anticipated false teachers will do it for the money. Paul reiterates that most important of Christian ethical themes, that we must support the weak. 

Finally, Paul/Luke does something very rare. He quotes a saying of Jesus that is not in the gospels, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." The vast majority of NT scholars think that this saying is authentic to Jesus, even though it's in none of the gospels. There are many other "floating" sayings of Jesus that appear in the writings of early Christians not in the Bible, such as Justin Martyr. Many, though far from all go back to Jesus himself.

When Paul has finished speaking, the church leaders pray with him and say their tearful goodbys. He has been with them for three years. They will really miss him. 

Lord of Paul, Luke, and Justin Martyr,

We are grateful that cloud of witnesses, all the great Christian writers who have carried on and passed down the faith throughout the centuries, even unto us. Although none of us is likely to die for our faith, may we live for our faith, witness to our faith, and pass down our faith. Amen.

Faithfully

Christian