The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-09-01

for thee: for my power is made perfect
In weakness.-II Cor. 12:9.
This letter raises interesting ques-
tions for research and discussion, such
as:
l. What Is the difference between
Pauls heroism and that of a soldier?
3 Is war essential to the development
Of heroism? 8. Which courage is high
er, moral or physical?
l.Paui, the Hero III :21-22). To a man
Of 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. For the
sake of those whom he had reclaimed
from heathenism he was willing to
seem to be Boosting. Literally he
says: Il speak by way of disparage-
ment (of myself) as though we had
been 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 ". 2D. Are
they Hebrews? cor the purest blood,
Of one nation and languageO So am
L." Are they Israelites, worshiping
only one 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? Il
speak as fool. l speak as one beside
himself l am more" In labors he
was more abundant; he had occupied
a larger field with greater results. In
stripes above measure-those inflicted
by the heather were not limited to
forty blows-besides other beatings re-
ferred to in this list. In prisons oft
| (Acts 16 :23). Frequently exposed to
| death and to the perils OF robbers by
land and sea ". 24). Five times l
received forty stripes, save one, from
the Jews" ". 25). Thrice was I
| beaten with rods; once was l stoned"
(Acts. IA :19). Thrice I suffered ship
wreck" evidently not recorded in Acts,
for his shipwreck on the way to Rome
\ w 10 lutCI. n hiSil anu II udS III tiAo
Deep" this not otherwise recorded.
"In journeyings often" suffering from
the perils of hard travel, often on foot
In uncivilized regions. "In perils of
water" literally "in rivers" Bridges
were rare, and floods sudden and fire.
quent. "In perils of robbers" Every
road in Asia Minor then as now was
infested with robbers. "In perils Of
his own countrymen; "In perils by
the Gentiles; !" "In perils in the city"
'In perils in the wilderness )" "In per-
lis in the sea" from storms, rocks, pi-
tates; "In perils among false breth-
ren"-Judaising teachers who We're
self-seeking instead of making the goS-
pei first (Gal. . A III Cor, II 49,. IN
WEAKNESS and paInfulness," literally in
labor and travail "In watchings oft
en-" repeated nights of sleeplessness
due to anxiety or pain. "1n hunger and
thirst, in Hastings often" hunger un-
satisfied for long time. "In cold and
nakedness - IN the mountain passes
badly shod and badly clothed. Besides
these things which We're without, in
Vulnerable other trials such as the
care of or anxiety over the churches
wv. 81, 33).
u. Gods Sustaining Grace G2 :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 .Ic-
sus. He wrote to these churches two
Gftbc of tho Na1y TaStomont thirteen
of its twenty-seven books, and this
work was accomplished under the
greatest difficulty, trials and suffering.
To sustain and guide, the Lord gave
him visions and revelations" ". j..
These revelations came to him from
the very beginning of his Christian life
and continued in every great crisis.
The first was given at his conversion,
twenty years before this letter was
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 40 :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 ". 10) he
takes pleasure in infirmities, reproach-
es and prosecutions; For when l am
weak" lin my own strength) then l
| am strong through Christ who