The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-09-02


GOLDEN TEXT-My grace II sufficient
for thee: for M power 10 made perfect
In weakness.-I1 Cor. 10. ~
This letter raises interesting cues
tons for research and discussion, such
as: \
1. What is the difference between
Paul's heroism and that Of o soldlerS
2. Is war essential to the development
Of heroism? 8. Which courage Is highs
er. moral or physical?
I.Paul, tho Hero I'll :21.22). To q 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 were unworthy ot
him-but the knowledge Of his suffer,
ings 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 be
says: II speak by way Of dlsparaget
ment (of myself as though We had.
been weak" yet he adds: "whereinsoS;
ever any is bold, am bold also" Paul
had as much to boast of as any one
Of his Jewish opponents ". 21). .Are5
they Hebrews7 COT the purest blood,
Of one nation and language7) So am
L" Are they Israelites, worshipine
only one God? Are they of the seed Of
Ahrohoy,, t1horttar, - xho ,,,t,t.<,., -
the promise and the Messianic hope
and the kingdom Of Godi Are they
ministers Of the Messiah, seeking I'd
bring all men into his klngdomi Y
speak as fool. I speak as one besldS
himself. 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-
ferre. to in this list. In prisons Oft
(Acts 1929. Frequently exposed to
death aud to the perils Of robbers By
land and seq ". 24). Five times I.
received forty stripes. save one, from
the Jews" ". 25). "Thrice was I
beaten with rods; once was stoned,
(Acts. 14:19). Thrice suffered ship.
wreck" evidently not recorded in Acts,
for his shipwreck on the way to Rome
was later. "A night and a day in the
Deep" this not otherwise recorded.
I'm journeylngs Often" suffering from
the perils Of hard travel. often on foot
In uncivilized regions. "In perils Of
water" literally "ln rivers" Bridges
were rare. and floods sudden and fire.
quent I'm 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;" I'm perils in the citys
"In perils In the Wilderness .sIn per-
lis in the sea" from storms, rocks, pis
rates: I'm perils among false brethl
ren"-Judaising teachers who were
self.seeklng instead Of making the COS.
pei arst (Gal. 2:4; II Cor, II :1S) ''In
WEAKNESS end painfulness," literally In
labor and travail; ain watchings oft.
en;" repeated nights Of sleeplessness
due to anxiety or pain. Elm hunger and
thirst, in Hastings often" hunger un.I
satisfied for a long time. am cold and
nakedness :" In the mountain passes
badly shod and badly clothed. Besides'
these things which were without N.
Vulnerable other trials such Al thei
care of or anxiety over the churchea
wv. SO, s3).
u. ood's SUSTAINING Grace f12.1.i0, j
To Paul God eave one Of the rreatess
tasks over committed TO man. Via. fl,s;
planting Of the gospel IN, heather
lands; founding churches teachinrE
them the gospel truths OF the ford ~
sus. He wrote to these churches tvo!
lifts Of the New Testament tbirfsen
of its twenty.seven books, and thiSl
work was accomplished under ths3
greatest difficulty, trials and sufser,ne.
To sustain and guide. the Lord csvos
him 'vlsions and revelations" a. Isl
These revelations came 10 him frnns
the very beginning Of his Christian iifs
and continued In every treat cri.iss
The first was riyen At bis convsrssn, 4
twenty years before this letter was
written, when he saw Jesus IN iHis