The Example of
the Bereans as Searchers of the Scriptures
Acts 17:10-15
10 And
the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who
coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and
of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had
knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither
also, and stirred up the people. 14 And then immediately the
brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus
abode there still. 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto
Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him
with all speed, they departed.
Introduction:
Wherever Paul and his mission team went there was
excitement. Frequently there was trouble as opposition, persecution, and
governmental authorities are involved. Every town and city was different,
however, and what stands out from the pattern in the historical narrative in
Acts are the exceptions to the norm. Those exceptions are most notable in this
chapter - here in Berea in these verses, and later in Athens, where Paul
travels next.
Outline:
I. The Noble Reception of the Word of God (17:10-12)
II. The Opposition to the Preaching of the Word of God
(17:13)
III. The Division of the Mission Team Bearing the Word of
God (17:14-15)
Transition: One way, and perhaps the best
way of approaching this episode, is by first taking a “bird’s eye view”, and
then zooming in to perch on one verse that stands out as remarkable.
I. The Noble Reception of the Word of God (17:10-12)
10 And
the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: [1] who
coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12
Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks,
and of men, not a few.
1. The Nature
of the Nobility of the Berean Jews (17:11)
2. The Result
of the Nobility of the Berean Jews (17:12)
Verse 10 sets the stage in the next city as Paul
continues his habitual practice.
1. The Nature of the Nobility of the Berean
Jews (17:11)
These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Let us leave this for the moment while we continue our
“bird’s eye view”. We will return to “zoom in”, and perch on this verse before
we are done our consideration of this passage of Scripture!
2. The Result of the Nobility of the Berean
Jews (17:12)
Therefore many of them believed; also
of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
1) Many Jews believed
2) Many Gentile women and men believed
1) Many Jews
believed
Therefore
many of them believed
2) Many Gentile
women and men believed
also
of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word
of God.” (Rom. 10:17)
II. The Opposition to the Preaching of the Word of God
(17:13)
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had
knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither
also, and stirred up the people.
1. The News of Paul Preaching the Word in Berea Reaches
Thessalonica
2. The Pursuit of Paul by “The Hounds of Hell” from
Thessalonica
3. The Propaganda against Paul by the Anti-Christ Party
from Thessalonica
1. The News of Paul Preaching the Word in Berea
Reaches Thessalonica
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had
knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea
Word spreads fast even on foot and by word of mouth over
a distance of apx. 50 miles.
2. The Pursuit of Paul by “The Hounds of Hell” [2] from
Thessalonica
they came thither also
They can’t leave it alone!
3. The Propaganda against Paul by the Anti-Christ
Party from Thessalonica
and stirred up the people
They can’t do it alone here anymore than they did in Thessalonica!
III. The Division of the Mission Team Bearing the Word
of God (17:14-15)
14 And then immediately the
brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus
abode there still. 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto
Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him
with all speed, they departed.
1. Paul is shipped out (17:14a)
2. Silas and Timothy remain in Berea (17:14b)
3. Paul is taken to Athens (17:15a)
4. The Brethren return from Athens to Berea with a
message for Silas and Timothy (17:15b)
1. Paul is shipped out (17:14a)
And then immediately the brethren sent
away Paul to go as it were to the sea
2. Silas and Timothy remain in Berea (17:14b)
but Silas and Timotheus abode there
still
3. Paul is taken to Athens (17:15a)
And they that conducted Paul brought
him unto Athens
4. The Brethren return from Athens to Berea with a
message for Silas and Timothy (17:15b)
and receiving a commandment unto Silas
and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed
*********************************************************************************
Now let us back up and “zoom in” on verse 11. Let’s perch
there for a few minutes!
The Nature of the Nobility of the Berean Jews
(17:11)
These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Why were they more
noble than those in Thessalonica?
There is an intentional contrast in these words!
Some would translate “noble” as “open-minded” (HCSB and
NLT). [3]
Nobility has fallen on hard times in our day, and open-mindedness is quite in
favor. This is not a good thing! The minds of most are open to anything these
days, and such “open-mindedness” is a far cry from the mind-set of these
Bereans hearing Paul in the synagogue during these weeks! God did not call many
of the nobility according to the flesh (1 Cor. 1:26), but the noble
characteristic exemplified here is a spiritual necessity for all who are truly
called by God (1 Cor. 1:18-31).
Consider some parallels as negative examples in the words
of Christ in the Gospels:
John 5:38-44 - 38 And ye have not his
word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not
honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my
Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name,
him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and
seek not the honour that cometh from
God only?
Luke 16:27-31 - 27 Then he said, I
pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28
For
I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into
this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith
unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30
And
he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will
repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from
the dead.
1) The Reception of the Word with Total Mental Readiness
2) The Proof of the Preaching by the Examination of the Word
1) The Reception
of the Word with Total Mental Readiness
they
received the word with all readiness of mind
Primary Parable: Mt. 13:1-23 - 1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and
sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together
unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood
on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying,
Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the
fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they
had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness
of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they
had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the
thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and
brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who
hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said
unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He
answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For
whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but
whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore
speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear
not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the
prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For
this people's heart is waxed gross, and their
ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time
they should see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and should
understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But
blessed are your eyes, for they see:
and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many
prophets and righteous men have
desired to see those things which ye
see, and have not seen them; and to
hear those things which ye hear, and
have not heard them. 18 Hear
ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of
the kingdom, and understandeth it
not, then cometh the wicked one, and
catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed
by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is
he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet
hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He
also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the
care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good
ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Prime Examples: 1 Th. 1 - 1 Paul,
and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our
Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you
all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work
of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in
the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your
election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of
men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of
the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy
Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia
and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread
abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For
they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how
ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to
wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the
wrath to come.
2) The Proof of
the Preaching by the Examination of the Word
(1) The Reason for their Scripture Searching
(2) The Nature of their Scripture Searching
(3) The Goal of their Scripture Searching
(1) The Reason for their Scripture Searching
cp. vs. 13 - the
word of God was preached of Paul at Berea
cp. vv. 2-3 - …reasoned
with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen
again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
"If
anything invites the understanding of man to be searching and prying, the
depths of the gospel will do it." - Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680)
"No other Word ever
was used as the means of bringing men to know the true God but the Scriptures.
Where the Scriptures have come there has been light: all the rest of the world
has remained in darkness." - Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
(2) The Nature of their Scripture Searching
and
searched the scriptures daily
"Christ, the
Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that
should be first and most studied and searched." - Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
(i) How didn't
they do this?
(ii) How did they
do this?
(iii) When should we do this?
(iv) What is
different for us when we do this?
(i) How didn't
they do this?
They could not do
a Google search engine!
They did not have
Logos or other software tools!
This was not a
“fast food” Bible study!
They did not do
this by proof texting, or some “grasshopper hermeneutic” as the cults do!
(ii) How did they
do this?
They did this the
hard way! They had scrolls without chapter and verse divisions.
They did this the
long way! They did this every day.
They did this the
right way! They examined passages in context, and compared Scripture with
Scripture, allowing the Scriptures to interpret themselves as God’s Word.
They followed the
pattern of the prophets themselves who went before:
1 Peter 1:10-13 -
10
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should
come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ
which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of
Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto
themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported
unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost
sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up
the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to
be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
(iii) When should we do this?
We might better
ask, “When shouldn't we do be doing this?”
"Some men seem to
devote most of their energies to the task of seeing just how little of
Christian truth they can get along with. We, however, regard it as a perilous
business; we prefer, instead of seeing how little of Christian truth we can get
along with, to see just how much of Christian truth we can obtain.
We ought to search the Scriptures reverently and thoughtfully and pray God that He may lead us into an ever fuller understanding of the truth that can make us wise unto salvation."
We ought to search the Scriptures reverently and thoughtfully and pray God that He may lead us into an ever fuller understanding of the truth that can make us wise unto salvation."
- J. Gresham Machen
(1881-1937)
(iv) What is
different for us when we do this?
We are exposed to
many more sources purporting to be proclaiming “truth” than the Bereans were.
We have a
significant increase in the amount of Scripture that we must search in
following the noble example of the Bereans than they did.
“The child of God
is obligated to bring the Scriptures to bear on all that we read and hear, and
always to view reality through the “spectacles of Scripture” - John Calvin (1509-1564). [4]
(3) The Goal
of their Scripture Searching
whether
those things were so
Did you notice that this is not the other way around?
They did not search the Scriptures to see whether they
were true or not.
The ivory tower world of modern falsely so-called
scholarship has had it the wrong way around for far too long. They insist on
searching the Scriptures to see whether the Scriptures are true or not. When
you start with unbelief, and do not receive the Word of God as the Word of God,
then you will end where you began. If you insist on not receiving the
Scriptures as the Word of Almighty God, then you have not basis for truth, and
no starting point to assess them or anything else as true or not. You are not
just without hope and without Christ in the world. You are without knowledge
and wisdom and stand before God the Judge of all as a fool.
1 Cor. 2:14 - But the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
Q. 5. How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God? [5]
A. The Bible evidences itself to be Gods Word by the
heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, its power to convert
sinners and to edify saints; but the Spirit of God only, bearing witness by and
with the Scriptures in our hearts, is able fully to persuade us that the Bible
is the Word of God.
1 Th. 5:21 - Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good.
If you are
listening to a preacher, or preachers plural, and you are not doing this, then
you are wrong! If you are reading uninspired literature, and you are not doing
this, then you are wrong!
Why? Are you
gullible? Are you accepting the word of uninspired teachers as true without
bringing it to the test of truth, the touchstone of the Word of Almighty God?
Are you taking someone else’s word for it without checking it out? Does “so and
so says so” make it so, when it is not found substantiated in Scripture?
"Above all,
as long as we live, let us habitually look forward to the great day of
judgment. Let us think of the solemn account which every one of us will have to
give in that day before the judgment-seat of Christ. We shall not be judged by
Churches. We shall not be judged by whole congregations. We shall be judged
individually, each by himself. What shall it profit us in that day to say,
“Lord, Lord, I believed everything the Church told me. I received and believed
everything ordained ministers set before me. I thought that whatever the Church
and the ministers said must be right”? What shall it profit us to say this, if
we have held some deadly error? Surely, the voice of Him that sits upon the
throne will reply, “You had the Scriptures. You had a book, plain and easy to
him that will read it and search it in a child-like spirit. Why did you not use
the Word of God when it was given to you? You had a reasonable soul given you
to understand that Bible. Why did you not ‘Prove all things,’ and thus keep
clear of error?” If we refuse to exercise our private judgment, let us think of
that awful day, and beware."
- J. C. Ryle
(1816-1900), Knots Untied
1 Jn. 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Conclusion:
"Let us mark
lastly, the manner in which our
Lord resisted Satan's temptations. Three
times we see Him foiling and baffling the great enemy who assaulted Him. He
does not yield a hair's breadth to him. He does not give him a moment's
advantage. Three times we see Him using the same weapon, in reply to his
temptations--"the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
(Ephes. 6:17.) He who was "full of the Holy Spirit," was yet not
ashamed to make the Holy Scripture His weapon of defense, and His rule of
action.
Let us learn from
this single fact, if we learn nothing else from this wondrous history, the high
authority of the Bible, and the immense value of a knowledge of its contents.
Let us read it, search into it, pray over it, diligently, perseveringly,
unweariedly. Let us strive to be so thoroughly acquainted with its pages, that
its text may abide in our memories, and stand ready at our right hand in the
day of need. Let us be able to appeal from every perversion and false
interpretation of its meaning, to those thousand plain passages, which are
written as it were with a sunbeam. The Bible is indeed a sword, but we must
take heed that we know it well, if we would use it with effect."
-
Expository
Thoughts on the Gospels,
Vol. 2: Luke 1-10 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, n.d.; 1990
reprint of 1856 original); also published as Expository Thoughts on Luke,
Vol. 1 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1997, 1986), pp. 111-112, s.v. Luke 4:1-13;
on Grace Gems at http://gracegems.org/Ryle/l04.htm
[accessed 9 JUN 2012].
Complete outline:
I. The Noble Reception of the Word of God (17:10-12)
1. The Nature of the Nobility of the Berean Jews (17:11)
1) The Reception of the Word
with Total Mental Readiness
2) The Proof of the Preaching
by the Examination of the Word
(1) The Reason for their
Scripture Searching
(2) The Nature of their
Scripture Searching
(i) How didn't they do this?
(ii) How did they do this?
(iii) When should we do this?
(iv) What is different for us when we do this?
(3) The Goal of their
Scripture Searching
2. The Result of the Nobility of the Berean Jews (17:12)
1) Many Jews believed
2) Many Gentile women and men
believed
II. The Opposition to the Preaching of the Word of God
(17:13)
1. The News of Paul Preaching
the Word in Berea Reaches Thessalonica
2. The Pursuit of Paul by “The
Hounds of Hell” from Thessalonica
3. The Propaganda against Paul
by the Anti-Christ Party from Thessalonica
III. The Division of the Mission Team Bearing the Word of
God (17:14-15)
1. Paul is shipped out (17:14a)
2. Silas and Timothy remain in
Berea (17:14b)
3. Paul is taken to Athens
(17:15a)
4. The Brethren return from
Athens to Berea with a message for Silas and Timothy (17:15b)
[Sermon preached 24
AUG 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources on Acts:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Paul Barnett, The
Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 2005).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts:
An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
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Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary,
gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers,
1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
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Zondervan, 2012).
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in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed.
Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Resources on Paul:
Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural
Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).
F. F. Bruce, Paul:
Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1977).
D. A. Carson, The
Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996), pp. 496-501.
W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged
American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
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A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson
(New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).
F. W. Farrar, The Life
and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
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Letters”, in The Face of New Testament
Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R. Osborne
(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.
Richard B.Gaffin, Jr.,
"Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center
on Westminster Theological Seminary
at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].
Frank J. Goodwin, A Harmony
of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and the
Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Richard N. Longenecker, The
Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
Richard N. Longenecker, Paul,
Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).
Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life,
Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
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In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press,
2004).
J. Gresham Machen, The
Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1925).
Leon Morris, The
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1955).
John Pollock, The
Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969,
2012); also published as The Man Who
Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York:
Doubleday, 1969).
Stanley E. Porter, Paul
in Acts, in Library of Pauline
Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of
Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen
Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).
W. M. Ramsay, The
Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A.
C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, Pauline
and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and
Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul
the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton,
1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal
Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, The
Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York
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[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
A. T. Robertson, Epochs
in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).
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And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2008).
Udo Schnelle, Apostle
Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben
und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).
Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul,
Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL:
IVP Academic, 2001).
James Stalker, The
Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by
Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google
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Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).
Endnotes:
[1] “Ancient city of Macedonia (a region now divided
among Greece, Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria), probably founded in the 5th century b.c. The city was approximately 25 miles
inland from the Aegean Sea on a scenic and fertile plain 600 feet high in the
foothills north of the Olympian range. Conquered by Rome in 168 b.c., Beroea (alternately spelled Berea
in numerous English translations) was one of the most populous Macedonian
cities in the time of Christ. Today the city is known as Verria.
Beroea was visited by the
apostle Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:10–15) and was the home
of Sopater, Paul’s companion (Acts 20:4). Paul and Silas left Thessalonica when
violent religious and political opposition arose and went to Beroea, 50 miles
southwest. There both Jews and Greeks eagerly received the gospel, but Paul had
to leave the city when angry Jews arrived from Thessalonica to stir up trouble.”
W. A. Elwell, and B. J. Beitzel,
eds., Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
(Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), pg. 293, s.v. “Beroea.”
[2] This phrase is borrowed
from the title of a poem by John Masefield in Enslaved and Other Poems (New York: Macmillan Co., 1920).
[3] This may be due to the influence of J. P. Louw and E.
A. Nida. See their Greek-English Lexicon
of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible
Societies, 1996), I:331, s.v. “27.48. εὐγενής, ές: a willingness to learn and evaluate something
fairly—‘willingness to learn, to be open-minded, to be noble-minded.’ οὗτοι δὲ ἦσαν εὐγενέστεροι τῶν ἐν Θεσσαλονίκῃ ‘the people
there were more open-minded than the people in Thessalonica’ Ac 17:11.”
However, compare pp. 735-736, s.v. 87.27; and J. H. Moulton, and G. Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (London: Hodder and Stoughton,
1930), pp. 259–260.
[4] “Just
as old or bleary-eyed men and those with weak vision, if you thrust before them
a most beautiful volume, even if they recognize it to be some sort of writing,
yet can scarcely construe two words, but with the aid of spectacles will begin
to read distinctly; so Scripture, gathering up the otherwise confused knowledge
of God in our minds, having dispersed our dullness, clearly shows us the true
God.” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 volumes, ed. John T.
McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles, The
Library of Christian Classics, eds. John Baillie, John T. McNeill, and
Henry P. Van Dusen, Vols. XX-XXI (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960),
I:70 (I:VI:1).
“Just
as old or bleary-eyed men and those with weak vision, if you thrust before them
a most beautiful volume, even if they recognize it to be some sort of writing,
yet can scarcely construe two words, but with the aid of spectacles will begin
to read distinctly; so Scripture, gathering up the otherwise confused knowledge
of God in our minds, having dispersed our dullness, clearly shows us the true
God.”
“For
just as eyes, when dimmed with age or weakness or by some other defect, unless
aided by spectacles, discern nothing distinctly; so, such is our feebleness,
unless Scripture guides us in seeking God, we are immediately confused.” Op.
cit., I:160-161 (I:XIV:1).
“This
simile….is probably Calvin’s decisive utterance on the role of Scripture as
related to the revelation of the Creator in creation. In modern Calvin study
there has been much diversity in discussions of this expression and its implications.
Cf. B. B. Warfield, Calvin and Calvinism,
pp. 260 f…..T. H. L. Parker, The Doctrine
of the Knowledge of God: A Study in Calvin’s Theology….” Op. cit., I:70 (I:VI:1), note 1.
[5] 1 Cor.
2:6,7,13; Ps. 119:18, 129; Acts 10:43, 26:22; Acts 18:28; Heb 4:12; Ps. 19:7-9;
Rom. 15:4; John 16:13,14; 1 John 2:20-27; 2 Cor. 3:14-17. See also the answer to this question in the
Westminster Larger Catechism, Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are
of the Word of God? A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of
God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the
scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power
to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto
salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in
the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very
word of God.
