The Tupelo journal., 1916-09-01

This letter raises interesting ques-
lions for research and discussion, such
as:
/. What is the difference between
Paul's heroism and that of a soldier?
z. Is wal essential to the development
of heroism? 8. Which courage is high
er, moral or physical?
I.PauI, the Hero III ;21-22). To a man
OF a sensitive nature, craving perfec-
ton, sarcasm stirs up the deepest bit
terness of the SOUL We do not believe
Paul primarily desired to refuse these
false charges-they were unworthy of
him-but the knowledge Of his suffer
lngs for the cause of Christ and the
truth of the gospel would augment his
power to serve the church. Fol the
SAKE of those whom he had reclaimed
from heathenism he was willing to
seem to be boasting. Literally he
says: II speak by way of disparage-
ment (of myself) as though we had
beer weak" yet he adds: "Whereinso-
ever any is bold, am bold also Paul
had as much to boast Of as any one
OF his Jewish opponents ". 21). "Are
they Hebrews? (Of the purest blood,
of n nation and languageO So am
l." Are they Israelites, w%orshiping]
only n God? Are they of the seed of
Abraham, inheritors Of the ministry of
the promise and the Messianic hope
and the kingdom of God? Are they
ministers of the Messiah, seeking to
bring all men into his kingdom? II
speak as a fool. l speak as one beside
himself. / am more" In labors he
was more abundant he had occupied
a larger field with greater results. In
stripes above measure-those inflicted
forty blOws-besides other beatings re-
ferred to in this list. In prisons oft
(Acts 1929. Frequently exposed to
death and to the perils of robbers by
land and sea ". 24). Five times /
received forty stripes, save one, from
the Jews ". 25). Thrice was I
beaten with rods; once was I stoned"
(Acts. IA :19). "Thrice I suffered ship
wreck" evidently not recorded in Acts,
u sf Ists sTlpalsi s1fsGfi sna s ! dags f IKE sSs
Deep this not otherwise recorded.
I'm journeytngs often" suffering from
the perils o. hard travel, often on foot
ii dneiyilixed regions. I'm perils of
.watsEa literally Zig EiysTSs &1dgss
quent, In perils Of robbers" Every
road in Asia Minor then as now was
III i31sl gsl t sssat zgssSsss X B gsA'Y'' 8 &
the Gentiles :" in perils in the city"
"In perils in the wilderness ;" I'm per-
lis in the sea" from storms, rocks, pi-
Iates; I'm perils among false breth-
ren"-Judaising teachers who were
self-seeking instead of making the gos-
pei irst (Gal. IA; II Cor, II :13). I'm
WEAKNESS and palnfulness," literally in
labor and travail; "In watchings Oft
en-" repeated nights Of sleeplessness
due to anxiety or pain. "In hunger and
thirst, in HASTINGS Often" hunger UNI
satisfied for a long time. "In cold and
nakedness;" In the mountain passes
badly shod and badly clothed. Besides
these things which were without, in
Vulnerable other trials such as the
care Of or anxiety over the churches
wv. 80, 33).
II. Gods Sustaining Grace 1 2:1-10).
To Paul God gave one of the greatest
tasks over committed to man, viz, the
planting of the gospel in heather
lands; founding churches; teaching
them the gospel truths of the Lord Je-
sus He wrote to these churches two
fifths of the New Testament, thirteen
of its twenty-seven books, and this
work vas accomplished under the
greatest difficulty, trials and suffering.
To sustain and guide, the Lord gave
him visions and revelations" ". -.
These revelations came to him from
the very beginning of his Christian life
and continued in every great crisis.J
The first was given at his conversion,
written, when he saw Jesus in His
glory and received his marching or
ders. Again wv. 2-4), fourteen years
before, or about A. D. 43, when he was
in Antioch and first entered upon his
foreign missionary work. He obtained
his gospel directly from the Lord. Sub
.sequently he had other visions to sus-
tain and guide him.
Teachers ought to study this entire
section. beginning at chapter 10. Paul
says that as an apostle he did not la
Dor in the fields of others ~(10:14-15).
He was not much concerned by what
his enemies might say.
As to his opinion of them, read
chapter 10. Ashamed to boast, yet for
their sakes he meets their foolish
charges by giving us this record.
Because of these sufferings ". 10Y he
takes pleasure in infirmities, %reproach-
es and prosecutions For when ! am
weak" Tin my own strength) then III
am strong through Christ who