Paul, a loving teacher to all ages

The final chapter in Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures includes a remarkable set of accounts that testify to the change in thought that can accompany the reading of that book. In one account, M.A.H. of Brockton, Massachusetts, concludes “I have since seen the power of Truth overcome error of many forms, including croup, whooping-cough, tonsillitis, etc. I am thankful for all these proofs, but far more grateful am I for the spiritual teaching to love, to forgive, to curb my tongue, and cease my criticism” (p. 686). The book is the teacher.

In Robert Peel’s book Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Trial, there is an interesting passage about Eddy’s teaching methods. He mentions that “her classes were for thinking” (p. 168). One of her early students, Hanover Smith, writes of her “reasoned dialogue” and “her great love and charity”.

She was teaching her students that God is Mind as well as Love.

Paul, too, was a teacher, “a chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15). His letters preserve for us a sense of both his great intellect and his enormous love. Paul had been raised a devout Jew. His home town of Tarsus lay on the trade route between Syria and Turkey. He was in the thick of things!

After his remarkable experience on the road to Damascus, including his encounter with the thoughtful Ananias, he dedicated his life to teaching others about Christ Jesus. In doing so, his deep reasoning was always accompanied by a huge capacity to love. Eddy says “He beheld for the first time the true idea of Love” (SH 326:31). 

Love permeates his letter, written some four to five decades after Jesus’ resurrection, to the little band of new Christians at Thessalonica. His encouraging words can be applied to Christian groups today. He really “bathes all in beauty and light” (SH 516:13).  

Here's a sampling.

I Thessalonians (KJV)

Chapter 1 – greeting the congregation

•   “Grace to unto you, and peace…” (Verse 1)
•  "We give thanks to God always for you all…” (Verse 2)
•  “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” (Verse 4)
•  Eugene H. Peterson translates: “It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loved you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.” (The Message)
•  “ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia” (Verse 7)

Chapter 2 – encouragement

•  “ye were dear unto us” (verse 8)
•  “we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children” (verse 11)
• The Message: “we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement”
•  “when ye received the word of God…ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (verse 13)
•  “ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (Verse 14)
•  “Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (Verse 19)
•  “ye are our glory and joy” (Verse 20)

Chapter 3 – more encouragement in the face of difficulties

•  “I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” (Verse 5)
•  “Timotheus…brought us good tidings of your faith and charity” (Verse 6) 
• The Message: “now that Timothy is back, bringing this terrific report on your faith and love…”
•  “…we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord” (Verse 8)
• The Message: “Knowing that your faith is alive keeps us alive.”
•  “…the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men” (Verse 12)

Chapter 4 – loving counsel to stay on track and to support each other

•   “ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” (Verse 9
• “study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands” (Verse 11) - The Message: “Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job.”
• “walk honestly toward them that are without, …that ye may have lack of nothing” (Verse 12
• “comfort one another” (Verse 18)

Chapter 5 – responsibility of the church body

• “ye, brethren, are not in darkness” (Verse 4)
• “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (Verse 5)
• “let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (Verse 8)
• The Message: “Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.”
• “comfort yourselves together, and edify one another” (Verse 11)
• “be at peace among yourselves” (Verse 13)
• Message: “Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part.”
• “warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (Verse 14)
• “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good” (Verse 15)
• “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless” (Verse 23)
• “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Verse 28)

Julie Swannell