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Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, Jas 1:2 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Monday, November 17, 2025
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :The Authenticity of Galatians (Galatians #11) Bible Verse:Galatians 2:1-2 (DP Bible) "Fourteen years having passed, God called me to Jerusalem, and so I made the journey with Barnabas and Titus as companions. When I arrived, I spoke to the more prominent Christian leaders and fully expounded my Gospel to them. I did this in private, not because their prominence means anything to me – God gives no credence to the opinions or reputations of men! - but in case there were any point of disagreement. One purpose of my trip was unity, and a public debate would have rendered it pointless, or even detrimental. I do not want to run my race in vain, as it were." Message:
Paul here continues to tell of his history, to convince the Galatians that the gospel he preached was a direct revelation from Christ — not something he was taught by men — and thus to be regarded in an entirely different category from the teachings of the false prophets that were leading many of them astray. And indeed, he is rather convincing, for he had spent only a two weeks visiting with the “apostles before me” — those who followed Jesus during His human life. Since then, Paul has been in Antioch for over a decade, building the greatest church in Christendom. It is unthinkable that his work was built upon an education of two weeks’ duration, without books or formal curriculum.
An objection to Paul’s apologia of his teaching (i.e., his formal defense of his position. Look up “apologetics” to learn more) is that it is self-authenticating. It is Paul testifying about his own truthfulness.
Dog writing on a scroll, from an illuminated Bible
But there is an argument in his favor, and this applies to the four Gospels, as well. Galatians was an early epistle and was widely circulated. And Paul wrote many more, including one to the Romans. Yet, there exists not a single word disputing him. Peter wrote two epistles long after Galatians. John outlived Paul by perhaps 30 years and wrote three epistles himself. James wrote an epistle. These were the three biggest names in the church at Jerusalem and, later, in Rome (Paul) and Antioch (John). They were also the people whom Paul is talking about in Galatians 1 and 2. Yet, none of them says a word criticizing him or disagreeing with him.
Consider the Gospels, while we are on the tangent. Early versions have been lost, but Mark was written while many people were still alive who had been in Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion; many more people read early drafts of Mark, people who had been in Galilee and Judea during Christ’s ministry. Yet, there is not a single document disputing Mark or any other Gospel. And despite the severe opposition of the educated Jews of the Sanhedrin, there are no writings that factually contradict the Gospels.
Although Paul is not outright insulting to them, his words about the most revered of Christ’s disciples are by no means flattering. His statement to the effect that “they did not add one word to my knowledge” would likely be taken as an affront, if it were untrue. And beginning in verse 10, Paul will relate an incident where he corrected Peter’s conduct; if this were untrue, we would expect to find a defense somewhere. Paul was fiery, but Peter was no shrinking violet himself!
Meditation : “There is nothing new in the story. It is as old as the Sibylline Books. That long dismal catalogue of the fruitlessness of experience and the confirmed unteachability of mankind.” ~ Winston Churchill Prayer : Oh Lord as I face creation Let me see with eyes made clear By Your promise of salvation, Never to return to fear. Amen. |
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