Hard Sayings 1 — Ephesians – espresso
Or, as many women have said, Paul was wrong! 😊
Recently I heard of Christian apologists who said, Paul was wrong on another subject.
Let’s see
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
I wonder how many people who said, Paul is wrong, spent three years in a desert not conferring with flesh and blood. Understanding Paul can be another matter. Peter said he wrote of things “hard to understand”.
Let’s look at just one.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
This is the one where women sometimes say, Paul was wrong. I’ve taken these verses out of context of the whole chapter, as this is where my focus is. And the little little little bit of light I have is based on:
** It takes every verse of scripture to understand one verse of scripture. So, let’s study marriage a bit.
Young men or Old men 😊
The young hormonally challenged man was out in the marketplace of women. Ahh he said upon meeting this one or that one, or even viewing this one or that one. This may be the one he thought.
Note:
Young men — just shake your head at them. They don’t know proverbs do they.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
WHAT young man ponders; is this a woman my heart would safely trust? Does a young man even know what that means 😊 Or are they more in lust than love? It’s a fair question. WHO can find a virtuous woman? She’s beautiful he thinks 😊 Yeah, if that’s all you look for. WHO can find a virtuous woman?
OR, my my, perhaps a virtuous man! Getting somewhere here. I’ve met one young man, and at 71, if your younger than me, I can call you young – he’s a pastor — has a sign in front of a church across from a school — I am persuaded that his heart safely trusts in his wife. I don’t have a doubt. What I don’t know, is if that is what he initially searched for, or was it simply an act of Mercy, perhaps in answer to a praying dad and mom.
[feedback welcome sir 😊]
Back to Ephesians
Gentlemen, if you become the WHO that is able to find a virtuous woman, and you yourself are a virtuous man, don’t you think some of this will work out better 😊?
Ahh, WHO can find a virtuous woman, her price is FAR above rubies. That also is part of Ephesians. And I left out part of the proverb:
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. That is a marker so to speak of a virtuous woman. Read proverbs 31 – plenty of sermons or teachings you could make from it.
Main point: it starts with us men being WHO we are supposed to be.