Evening star., 1925-12-26
Sunday School Lesson

and information obtained from visit
| ing Christians, who advised him of
the conditions in the various churches.
Paul never missed an opportunity 10
visit his brethren. and sometimes
called them to a conference when it
was impossible for him to visit them.
| All the letters are addressed either to
churches located in cities or leading
workers engaged in city evangelistic
| work
! Most Of the letters grew out Of con-
ditions existing in the churches, to
whom the epistles We're sent by per-
sonal messengers. The messages show
now largely, as in the case of the
corinthians. the environment Of the
church had Influenced their lives.
When he learned OF the cause of their
divisions he quickly removed the pos
sibility OF schism by claiming that
all about whom they had sought to
build up parties were like himself,
merely servants OF Christ Jesus. He
emphasized the place OF love in the
building up of their Christian lives.
and found a way by which he could
be counted one of them when
speaking of the gratitude that he had
for the comfort which he had received
from God
In his letter to the Galatians he
vindicated his authority as an apostle
and he proclaimed truths that vindi-
Gated his spostleship and gospel. In
arguing against the necessity of Oh
serving the ritual Of Judaism to be
Christian. Paul became the champion
of soul liberty and human freedom.
1t was due 10 his differences with
some Of those who insisted that he
had not observed the law that the
apostle found the way opened for
him to reach Rome as a prisoner. He
never dreamed when he sent the
members of the church there the
letter that pointed out the source Of
idolatry in the epistle, that has been
called "the religious philosophy Of
world history" he would reach the
| imperial city in chains for his loyalty
to Christ
During his days as a prisoner he
sent to the Ephesa ms. Philippians and
ColosSianS. as well as tn Philemon.
letters touching events of that period
and pointing out the Christ ian prin-
ciples that would settle them. While
the application has differed during
the changing DAYS Of history. the
principles that he outlined in those
letters contain the needed instruc-
tion 10 settle some Of the problems Of
our day and hour. After securing
his freedom, SO that he continued his
adventurous activities missionary
| for several years, he was brought
back to Rome, where he faced death
He was unmoved by the approaching
end but showed his affection for
Timothy and Titus in the personal
letters which breathed his longing
for their comradeship in the closing
hours. He probably died as a politi-
cal prisoner. Tradition associates his
end with the prosecutions that fol
lowed the burning Of Rome.
He was encouraged by the hopes
of the glory that awaited him and
the assurance of obtaining the crown
Of righteousness which he knew the
Lord would bestow upon not only
Paul but all that have loved His an
pearing. The unseen was real 10
Paul, who saw the lack of reality in
the temporal changing things of this
world. and this confidence in the real
ity Of the unseen presence. power and
providentia leadership Of God was
the secret of his marvellous success.
In the city where he died there has
arisen a mighty cathedral dedicated
to his memory, erected for the wor-
shin of the Lord whom he loved.
Although he went out in an obscure
and miserable end. the Consecrated
missionary who conseCrated his whole
life TO obey Christ is considered one
of the worlds great men. proving
that he that humbleth himself for
the glory of the Lord is certain to he
exalted. Let MS follow the example
set us by the apostle in consecrated
service by concentrating all our tai
ents TO the Lord Jesus.