THE APOSTLE PAUL - ARROGANT OR HUMAN?

I remember sitting in a Bible study once, many years ago, and as we dissected one of Paul’s letters to the churches, a woman commented, “Paul sure is arrogant!”

I’ve been re-reading his letters this past month. In some of the passages, that comment came back to me and I asked the Lord for understanding. Was Paul arrogant? Paul tells the people to remember how he behaved when he was with them. He says they are to copy his behavior because what he does is right and beyond reproach. He says he sets the right example for them, so all they have to do is follow it and they’ll be acceptable as Christians.

Wow, that does sound arrogant! During this read through, though, when I came across verses that made Paul sound pompous and full of himself, the Lord brought to my mind an important fact. In 2 Corinthians 12:4 Paul says that 14 years ago, he “was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” (See the full passage below.)

Paul experienced paradise! Paul points out that he didn’t know if he actually went in the body or out of the body, but in any case, Paul experienced paradise first hand, and it changed him! Besides Jesus, Paul is the only human I know of in scripture who experienced heaven and came back retaining the memory, to live in this life again. Does that give him credibility that others don’t have? I thought about someone who’s fought in a war. Do we give more weight to their words on a war-related topic? What about a missionary who has spent years surviving in a hostile land with only the Lord as an ally. Do we trust that they have intimate knowledge of the Lord born of their experience? And so we have Paul. Was he arrogant? Or was he changed so dramatically after that event that he knew without a doubt that the example he set was true to what the Lord expected it to be?

Analogy: A beginning piano student is learning to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” The piano teacher demonstrates and says, “Watch. Hold your hands like this. Do it exactly this way.” The student doesn’t question the instruction. The piano teacher has experience way beyond that of the student.

When we want to learn something we don’t know, we are wise to seek out someone with exceptional experience and credentials! We look for one who has certificates of accomplishment posted on their wall. The instructor isn’t arrogant. The instructor is confident in his knowledge of the material he has to teach, and we can be confident in following that teaching.

Paul was a teacher. Was he accredited? I’m thinking back to the book of Acts. There are several descriptions where Paul carried out healings and even brought the dead back to life. Yes, the Lord accredited Paul by giving him the power to perform miracles for a time.

So. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ - experienced teacher in his field, with excellent credentials directly from the Lord. Not arrogant, just highly qualified.

But Paul was human as well.

When Paul was in prison, he wrote two letters to his young friend and disciple, Timothy. This week I was especially touched by Paul’s salutation at the end of 2 Timothy.

Here is a man in prison for no just reason. He’s been there for a long time. It doesn’t appear he will get out. In other letters he’s written from prison he’s described great successes for the Lord, witnessing and bringing many to know the gospel message. But this time he sounds discouraged. Demas has deserted him and gone to Thessolonica because Demas “loved the world”. Cresens had gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is left there with him (2 Tim. 4:10-11). Three of his four supporters are gone. To someone in prison, that’s got to be significant.

In this letter I see the only instance in which Paul appears to place value on material things. Paul writes to Timothy to, “bring my cloak and my scrolls, especially my parchments” (2 Tim. 4:13). Does that sound human? It sure does to me. If people deserted me, I too would turn to a cozy blanket and some well loved books to find comfort.

Paul says that Alexander did him a great deal of harm (2 Tim. 4:14). That tells me he’s thinking about those who hurt him, who have made this period in his life so difficult - a very human response. But then Paul takes that thought captive and gives it to the Lord when he says, “the Lord will repay him for what he has done.” That’s an appropriate response for one strong in Christ. Paul also warns Timothy to guard against this man, Alexander, so he’s sharing this information for a good reason. Paul isn’t just gossiping. Even in prison, even in this difficult time, Paul is setting a right example.

When I read 2 Tim. 4:16 the words seem to cry out with discouragement. When Paul was taken for trial and needed people to defend him, he says “no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.” How devastating that must have been. Paul could easily dwell on that more, but again he takes the situation captive and immediately follows it with, “May it not be held against them.” Even in his struggle, he’s demonstrating how Timothy and the rest of us should respond when we are hurt, betrayed, and abandoned. Paul prays for his betrayers.

Paul goes on to encourage himself, Timothy, and all of us as he teaches once more how to overcome, how to remain steadfast and faithful in the face of trials and tribulations. Like David, when he was running from King Saul, Paul forces his hurting heart to first share his pain, and then to turn to the one who can and will strengthen him, the one who has all the power to save him and comfort him, not FROM his suffering, but IN his suffering.

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Tim. 4:17-18)

No, I don’t think Paul was arrogant. He was simply like that piano teacher. Paul’s experience and knowledge increased beyond our understanding when he was taken to heaven. He knew things he couldn’t even express. As well, Paul had been living as a Christian for many years by now, way longer than most. He had walked with the Lord through severe trials, through great successes, through confusion and adversity. All of this practice, if you will, made him the equivalent of a concert pianist when it came to having confidence in what he was teaching, and in his ability to demonstrate it accurately.

Hmmmm..... As a little aside, speaking of musicians, I’m reading a book right now about Auschwitz.. I’m reminded of stories that tell of Jews who had been musicians in the world before the war. There in the concentration camp they were periodically assigned to entertain the guards and officers. Musicians, starved and cruelly abused the rest of the time, were brought together to bring pleasure to their persecutors. These men were not diminished because of their suffering. The stories say that even in such a terrible circumstance, they took joy in creating music. Their gift allowed them to be thankful, in the midst of their suffering, and in the face of their persecutors. Maybe that’s what it was like for Paul.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.