Paul’s Letter to the Romans

At first I wasn’t sure I would like Romans.

Paul is not the easiest writer to read. His style is formal and a bit stiff. The first half was not my favorite - maybe because it was aimed at the Jews. All that talk about circumcision!

Then, about halfway through the book, I started to appreciate what Paul was saying.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future … nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus out Lord.

Paul reminds that both Jews and Gentiles are children of the living God. 

He talks of love and God given gifts and our responsibility to use our gifts and treat everyone with love. Live in harmony with one another….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. When did we forget that? Accept the one one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. Stop being so self righteous.

Now I like Paul and his letters. (Good thing, he wrote a lot if them!)

I even liked the personal greetings at the end. I liked that Paul recognized all the people helping spread the word, both men and women.

The Book of Acts

My daughter told me the book of Acts was written by Luke (of the Gospel Luke).

I can see that.  He begins Acts by saying, In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do...  The gospel of Luke begins in much the same way, ...since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus...

The biggest difference between the two books is that Luke researched Jesus' life, listening to testimony of many people who were actually there, but it was not a first hand account.  Luke actually travelled with Paul during his life as a disciple and was an actual witness to what was happening at the time.  He began Acts in third person, giving the facts of this young church as he either researched or witnessed. Then Luke starts to add "we" to his account, beginning with chapter sixteen, verse ten.  Was this done to add credibility to his account?  Was that when Luke first joined the church?  When he first joined John?  Or was it an unconscious change?

I had forgotten the story of Saul, who persecuted the new believers with zeal, followed by his unlikely conversion to one of the greatest proponents of the new church (which included a name change to Paul).  I couldn't remember where Paul had come from or why he was such an important person in spreading the Good News.  Now I know.  

Paul (Saul), was an influential figure with prominent Jewish lineage.  As such, his preaching was both knowledgeable (he knew the prophesies inside and out) but also disturbing to many Jews.  He could tell them how and why he began spreading the message of Jesus (and his story never changed).  He previously persecuted the members of The Way, and now he was an important, articulate teacher.  

He passionately believed without ever having seen Jesus, the man, in person.

Paul did what God asked of him, even when he knew it may bring his death.  He traveled around the land teaching and encouraging both Jews and Gentiles in the Way.  He went to Jerusalem (where they tried to kill him) and on to Rome (with a stop in Malta because of a terrible storm) where he continued to spread the word and encourage new Christians.

Paul's conviction and story never wavered, never changed. 

John

John was a little tougher read than the other three gospels.

At times, the book of John came across as a little more "preachy" than the other books.  Maybe because this was written by John the disciple.  (At least that is who I think wrote this book.)  He seemed to be trying to make Jesus sound more intellectual, more other-worldly.  He spent more time on Jesus defending himself to the Pharisees and less time on parables.

John did include some new details not included in the previous gospels.  He begins with John the Baptist, totally ignoring the birth of Jesus.  He moves right to the adult Jesus and his first miracle - turning water into wine at the wedding, per his mother's request.  This is the first time we hear of the Samaritan women by the well.  He had the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (who Jesus raised from the dead) and indicated that there was a special relationship between the four.

John spent a lot more time on Jesus's last days and the Pharisee's plot to kill him.  He talks more of the instructions Jesus gives to the disciples for after his death and resurrection.  He spent more time on the resurrection, including some details not in the other books.  Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb, but this time she tells Peter and the one whom Jesus loved (John?) and they go to the tomb to look for themselves.  This is the first time we hear of Thomas not being there when Jesus first appeared in the room to the disciples and his need to see Jesus in person before he would believe.

John keeps referring to the disciple whom Jesus loved - was he talking about himself?  I think he was, for a variety of reasons.  Was there a feud between John and Peter?  The one whom Jesus loved is mentioned as bettering Peter a few times. (Peter ran to the tomb, but the one whom Jesus loved got there first.  The one whom Jesus loved sat next to Jesus at the last supper, leaning against him and asking who will betray you, Lord? Judas betrayed Jesus, but Peter denied him three times.)

This book filled in some details, but left out others.  Why?  Because John already knew what Matthew and Mark had to say so he didn't need to repeat them?  Or because, as it said at the end of the book, there are too many stories to tell...

My Dad's family:

(first row) Aunt Ina, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Mable

(second row) Uncle John, Uncle Owen, Aunt Vee, my Dad (Ross)

Luke

I finished Luke today and I think he must be The Historian.

Unlike Matthew and Mark, Luke was not there for Jesus’ life. His is not a first hand account. He listened to stories, did research, and wrote his gospel based on what he found. Interesting.

Luke gives much more information on John the Baptist than the first two gospels. He also talks about Mary’s visit by an angel (but nothing about Joseph). He tells of Jesus birth, focusing on the shepherds but no mention of the wisemen or Herod’s declaration that all boys under age two be killed or Joseph and his family’s flight to Egypt.

Luke is the first gospel to tell of baby Jesus’ circumcision story and the story of boy Jesus staying in the temple, calling it his Father’s house. Luke gives an expanded version of Jesus in Nazareth and the temptations of Jesus. (If only Jesus was present at the temptations, how is it all three gospels tell the same story?)

Luke tells some parables we already know, but in more detail. He tells new parables not mentioned by Mathew or Mark, too.

Luke pays much more attention to the women followers of Jesus, giving names and backgrounds. He tells more stories involving the women. He is very clear the women discovered the empty tomb, had a conversation with angels and told the (disbelieving) disciples what they found and heard.

Luke gives more detail to Jesus’ last days, last hours. 

Then Luke tells of the disciples waiting for what will come next for them…

The Second Gospel - Mark

Mark ignores the birth of baby Jesus and begins with Jesus' adult teachings.

Mark has some references to Old Testament prophesy, but not nearly as much Matthew did.  I wonder if Mark was writing to the non-Jews?  

After talking about John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus, Mark plows straight into the Good News.  

He repeats many of the stories of Matthew, with some other details.  He tells of Jesus' parables, but not as many as Matthew.  He seems to focus more on the healings, of the interactions with outsiders, and of Jesus saying, Your faith has healed you.

Mark names three women by name at Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, instead of Mary, Mary and the others.  Mark names Mary, Mary, Salome and many other women.

Mark has some extra verses (Chapter 16, Verses 9-20 that my Bible said some earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnessed do no include).  These verses talk about how Mary Magdalene came to follow Jesus.  They tell how Jesus appeared to Mary and then to two of them (Does this mean two women?) before he appeared to the disciples.  When all these people told the disciples about what they saw, the eleven did not believe...not until Jesus came to them, rebuked them for not believing and then gave them orders to, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation...