How do we know the
difference between right and wrong? Can the Bible help? Does Paul’s letter to
the Romans help? I find Romans HARD!! But I’ve also found that reading it aloud
with my mum has been an amazing experience. So, the last time we did this, we were
intrigued to read about accusing and excusing. It’s in chapter 2 and I’ve
looked up three translations that help clarify Paul’s message. The highlighting
is mine:
For
when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in
the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the
work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one
another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my gospel. (Romans 2: 14-16, KJV)
14-15 When the Gentiles, who have no knowledge of the
Law, act in accordance with it by the light of nature, they show that they have
a law in themselves, for they demonstrate the effect of a law operating in
their own hearts. Their own consciences endorse the existence of such a law,
for there is something which condemns or commends their actions. (JB
Phillips)
12-15 He will punish sin wherever it is found. He will
punish the heathen when they sin, even though they never had God's written
laws, for down in their hearts they know right from wrong. God's laws are
written within them; their own conscience accuses them, or sometimes excuses
them. And God will punish the Jews for sinning because they have his
written laws but don't obey them. They know what is right but don't do it.
After all, salvation is not given to those who know what to do, unless they do
it. (The Living Bible)
Mary
Baker Eddy – a deep student of the Bible – mentions this passage in A
Colloquy, in her book Unity of Good (a colloquy is a conversation or
discussion):
In
Romans (ii. 15) we read the apostle's description of mental processes wherein
human thoughts are “the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.” If
we observe our mental processes, we shall find that we are perpetually
arguing with ourselves; yet each mortal is not two personalities, but one.
In like manner good and evil talk to one another; yet they
are not two but one, for evil is naught, and good only is reality.
(Unity of Good, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 21:1–9)
I love this
observation of “mental processes”. I also love that, when looking for role
models, instead of movie stars or sports stars, etc. we have stars in our Bible
friends Paul and Jesus. These stars expand our thought beyond the everyday and
out to infinity, just like viewing the night sky on a cloudless night. Mary
Baker Eddy calls Jesus and Paul "stars of the first magnitude"
(Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, 360: 13). Catching even a glimpse of their
contribution is worth it. Maybe it’s a bit like peering into outer space
through a powerful telescope.
Julie
Swannell
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