Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-11-20
Paul's Story of
His Life
Sunday School Lesion for Nov. q. 1903
Specially Arranged for This PAGER

Memory verses. a. rs
GOLDEN TENT.-"TTe said unto me.
Ny grace is sufficient for thee. Tor my
strength IS made perfect in weakness "
20 Cor 12.9
TINE-Autumn Of A. u 81 to late IN
O. or early in 52
PLACE-In Macedonia where tho Sec
ond Episuc 90 the Corinthians was writ
ten
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
I. The church FIN Corinth was very
young not seven years old. from the
first coming of Paul. who remained
with them only year and q half
Since that time they had grown in
numbers with but little outside help
from Paul and those who represented
him.
2. The young church was surround.
Cd by intense worldliness. and heather
immoralities and principles. which
were like an intense moral malaria.
an unhealthy atmosphere.
2. There was I'm the city a consider
able colony Of Jews who were opposed
20 the whole Christian movement.
& An anti-Pauline mission OF Chris
tian Jews from Palestine came 90
Corinth with views opposed to PauTs
teachings concerning re Genules.
and insisted that az Gentle Chris
uans should conform to the Jewish
ritual
5. Cases Of immortality had arisen
IN the church for which Paul had
been compelled 20 rcprove them.
6. There were divisions among
them. one being for Peter. another
for Paul, and another for Christ. as II
all we're not for Christ
z. There were attacks upon PauVs
character and authority.
Speaking OF those who claimed 20
be the real leaders and apostles. and
who condemned him. Paul says:
p. Are they Hebrews" OF purest
blood, one Of the nation and Ian
guage?
so am J."
ARE they Israeltes." Of the true re
liglon. worshiping the one God2
so am J."
Are they the seed OF Abraham" I'm
heritors Of the promises. Of the Mes
sianic hopes. and the kingdom of Code
so am l."
"a Five times received forty
stripes save one" from the Jews. None
are mentioned in the Acts. The Jews
were forbidden 90 iuhict more than
forty stripes ODeut 25.3l. and lest
they should break the law by a mis-
take in counting they inflicted only
thirtynine.
%. Thrice was I beaten with rods
Once mentioned in Acts 1912 A sim
liar instance is given by Cicero
against Verres. V. 90.
once was ] stoned" At Lystra
(Acts 1870. Stoning was planned
once before az lconium. but the plan
was not carried out (Acts 1850.
Two.-The second test of apostle
ship.-12 :I-6. Vision. Insight. Com
munion with God Realization OF the
spiritual PauIs second answer 20 OBJ
jectors Is that he has a right 10 speak
IN the name Of God; for though he
had not seen Jesus IN the flesh. he
had seen eternal things. ne had re-
ceived revelations from God.
2. 4 knew" DIETER 81 know "a
man IN Christ" That he is referring
20 himself is proved by v. Z; and the
whole argument implies H. How II
came. he could not tell. but he knew
the fact. Caught up TO the third
heaven" beyond the visible heaven.
ito the highest heaven where the
throne OF God IS" to Paradise the
abode OF the just. and OF the angels
Whatever place il may have been. Il
was into the inmost spiritual realities.
Note the several visions which are
recorded IN the Acts from this vision
Of Jesus at his conversion. 10 his
vision In the storm on the way to
Rome. In his letter TO the Galatians
C:11. 12) Paul declares:
Il certify you, brethren. that the
Gospel which was preached of me is
not after man.
For 1 neither received II Of man,
neither was ! taught IL, but by the
revelation OF Jesus Christ"
Something of this vision. of this
communion OF God with our spirits.
OF this realization OF heaven and its
life. Of this insight into spiritual
truths. is necessary TO our best useful.
ness and our highest life.
Three.-The third test Of Paups
Apostleship was his sanity life
12:7-lO. Paul shows that the signs of
an apostle were wrought among the
Corinthians in signs and wonders and
mighty deeds every one OF them for
the good OF the people and the glory
OF God. Il seek not yours but you"
i will very gladly spend and be spent
for you, though the more abundantly
i love you. the less / be loved"
The Thorn in the Flesh. One special
FORM In which his saintliness was cuI.
nvated and manifested is described in
vs.. ITO.
What Paul's ". y thorn in the
flesh" was we cannot tell. But Il an
pears to have been something which
he feared would lessen his power
among them and hinder his work.
If person bearing a burden that
is too great for his strength. prays
for relief. there are two ways OF an
svering his prayer. Cd The burden
may be lessened to his strength. or be
taken away In this case he is re-
lieved OF his burden. but is no better
able to bear other burdens. Or 20