Paul’s opens his earliest letter, 1 Thessalonians (the reading for Trinity 20 in Years A) with a range of remarkable affirmations. Already he is expressing in nuce things that he will expand on in later letters. But the pattern remains consistent all through his writing.
What do we learn from this, and how do we see expressed Paul’s trinitarian theology and understanding of the people of God?
For Michael Gorman’s booklet on Peace in Luke and Paul, see here.
For the study of Discipleship in a digital world, see here.
The gospel reading is Matthew 22.15-22, the question of paying taxes. For video discussion, see here.
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Here is a profoundly theological concept .
What constitutes a “model church” and how do we
“Measure up”?
We are conditioned to think of the church as parochial;
Something earth bound; how can we imitate a thriving healthy, impactful church that gets a name for ourselves. We look at such churches and think we must do what they are doing without asking how did they get to be so dynamic? What are their foundations ?
Consequently imitation fails.
The foundations of this church are laid down in Acts 17
17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Paul “built the alter” before the house could be built. It took him 3 Sabbaths to build it. Some submitted and were transformed
Then the World was turned up- side down
and that is when the enemy storms in !
To emphasis the point he then went on to the noble church at Berea who “ searched the Scriptures as to whether these things were so.”.
And in the Scriptures they may well have noted the model church [temple] of Ezekiel in his latter chapters.
They may have observed that in that church the
Brass Alter was not at the entrance but is the exact centre around which all else is built.
There was also a man with an exact[ing] measuring rod .
Everything was to be “as the pattern shown” in a previous mount. Everything has to measure up to this man which, as we see in the churches of Revelation did not “measure up” apart from a holy remnant. Everything as Ezekiel saw as he was shown the outside from a high mountain and inside was to be all “holiness to the Lord”.
This, much the same as the disciples saw on another mountain, the glory that follows the “exodus”. They just did not want to leave That Temple.
The thing is that these churches in Acts did not just believe in the cross or recite creeds about it or sing hymns about it. What is evidently unique and distinctive is they submitted to the Cross, embraced it and carried it, through persecution and demonic reactions, the glory poured forth from them far and wide, to the praise and glory of God.
Rather than navel gazing about our earthly situation;
Perhaps like Paul labour to show the vastness of Christ’s Church, magnify it and intercede for it for a spirit of wisdom knowledge and understanding – ” until we all come to the “measure of the “Stature of Christ”. Shalom.
Hi Alan I posted another song you and others might enjoy at the end of the Open Reception post comments.
Ian n James,
Jesus said in John 10:18 He has the power to take up his life again if he laid it down. Why did he not keep to the trinitatian model?
Isn’t it interesting that apart from Jesus, noone else has been able to raise themselves from the dead. Thus showing His uniqueness. But I suspect God as a whole as it were was involved.
just interesting when the trinity is important and when it’s not. it’s whatever Jesus says it is I suppose.
I and the Father are one. John 10:30
The context is contention over who Jesus is. The context of John is Trinitarian, a Oneness and union with believers, is it not?