The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-01-02
SCRIPTURAL LOVE
LETTER, SUBJECT
Or. Soudder Places Unique Inter
probation on Letter 10 the.
ColOssianS.
(From Monday = Adycrtlsor.)

Analysing aud explaining "a Pray
or Eighteen Centuries Old" Dr. Dor.
cnus scuddcr preached his last sermon
Vt tine old year at the Central Union
church yesterday evening, taking his
test from the first chapter of Colos.
sans. lie dwelt largely on the inner
lie of 81. Paul which had made possible
chat letter and discussed its relations
with lie as u is lived eighteen cen.
turtles alter the environment of st. Paul
had ceased to exist,
'Ihele is an Immense advantage in
living 1900 years after the Now Tesla.
uont books were written, said Doc.
tor Scudder, in part, "because the cen.
turtles have tested those documents in
the laboratory OF experience and have
modified aud amplitied, made clear and
established their statements. The scrip.
lures mean vastly more now than they
did then. You and l can know them
better than the early Christians did.
But there is also disadvantage in this
distance from theft source and that is
the loss of their environment.
HOf all the New Testament writings,
Paul Is letters have suffered most from
failure to read and study them in che
light of their original surroundings
Take this tiny lettar to the Colossians
1t is not a theological treatise, yet moi
a few Christian centuries have treated
it as such. 1t was not the product Of
cold critical research and reflection, Bet
ter far call it love letter It's story
is one of the romanees of first century
missions.
Somewhere in Asia, probably al
Ephesus, Paul once CHANGED ON q resi-
dent of the distant town of Cofosse. TIL,
man happened to be one of nature /
noblemen, Philemon by name. The twt
proved kindred spirits, one living ii
radiant land and the other in regions
of shadow. The meeting had but on,
Issue, birth into glory for the Colqs
slams. They parted eternal friends
Philemon the capitalist in everlasting
debt to Paul, the tent.malsing day la
borer.
4 'tThe two men doubtless heard httlr
! of each other" he continued, 70
years. Long after, when Paul lay ik,
a Gagged lion in Rome. some travele
brought to him the story of what hi
whilom convert had been doing a
Colosse; how strong church ha
grown out of that single man won 70
OHilSls you can near Raul sh0ub a
Timothy enters the house in which tn
apostle was confined. Just listen, Tim
othy, to this news about Philemon,
and after it was told you can see tn
two knael and pour their thanksgivin
to God out of hearts OVERLOOKING wit
the joy that comes to a disciple whe
he reflects how he once led to Jesu
a man who has become a tower o
strength in Cod Kingdom. Timothy
tget your stylus and tablets and TAX
down this message to Philemon and hi
comrades. cannot wait minut
longer y
Speaking of omnipotence, !" contir
ued Doctor Scudder, as he concluded
"and like children we think of crash
ing thunderbolts, oceans resistles
power, frightful rending and seethin
of earthquakes. But the apostles pray
er reads strengthened with all powe
according to the might of God Is glor,
unto all patience and long-sufferingi
What an anticlimaxl Patience an,
longsuffering, quiet endurance of sor
row and trial and wrong, have thes
any likeness to the measureless Nigh
of the living God7'1i