Harvard University was originally established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature and named after its initial benefactor John Harvard giving it bragging rights as the USA’s “oldest institution of higher learning”.  According to Wikipedia, “its history, influence and wealth have made it one of the world’s most prestigious universities”.  Founded on the motto “Veritas” (Latin for truth), in its early days the college existed primarily to train Congregational and Unitarian clergy but in the 18th century the curriculum and student body were secularized and the institution formally moved away from its religious roots.  Today it boasts of being a “highly residential research university” operating several arts, cultural and scientific museums along with the Harvard Library, the world’s largest academic and private library system.
            If Harvard is the epitome of intellect and higher education in the modern world, then the city of Athens would be its counterpart in the Biblical world.  While the “glory of Athens” had faded by the time Paul arrived there on his second missionary trip, its gleaming white marble buildings were evidence of Athens’ position as a cultural and intellectual center.  The agora was the most popular place to discuss the ideas and philosophies of the day.  Ancient descriptions inform us that it was literally lined wall to wall with idols.  The sight repulsed Paul but it didn’t deter him from his calling.  It motivates his conversations with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers and eventually brings him to the Areopagus (known today as Mars Hill), a rocky outcrop across from the Acropolis where leading citizens and rulers heard philosophical and legal presentations to determine their legitimacy.  With the Parthenon and its gigantic statue of Athena (the goddess of wisdom!) in full view Paul was asked to explain his “strange teaching” to the high court and the skeptical philosophers who were more interested in talk than truth.  The Gospel however is never preached in vain.  One official, Dionysius, and a woman named Damaris come to faith along with several unnamed others (Acts 17:16-34).
            The Epicurean and Stoic philosophies were the leading schools of philosophy at this time.  Epicureans believed that the essence and purpose of life were found in the material world and nothing more.  One came from matter and returned to matter, and like the gods whom they believed were indifferent to humanity, it was best to live a life as free from pain, passion, and superstition as those gods did.  The Stoics embraced a completely different philosophy.  They believed that reason and intellect were evidence of the divine within each living thing and that humans achieved their greatest potential when they lived by reason.  When these two schools of thought were confronted with Paul’s Gospel message they considered him to be ludicrous and dubbed him a “babbler”.  The Greek word here evokes the image of a bird pecking away at seed.  Their philosophies were so far off from the Gospel they believed Paul to be plucking new thoughts out of the air but making no sense at all. 
            I remember a time when I was in the midst of a heavy semester stumbling upon a passage in Ecclesiastes which proclaimed “the writing of many books is endless and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body” (Ecc. 12:12).  That seemed truly appropriate to a homework inundated student!  Although the writer was not bashing books or knowledge, there is a certain truth in overloading oneself with intellectual thought.  In the case of the Athenians it blocked them from understanding the Gospel.  There are just as many philosophies and ideologies claiming to purport the truth about life today as there were in Paul’s time.  The pursuit of them seems to be at an all time high and yet none of these philosophies bring personal peace and the satisfaction offered by them is temporary at best.  They always leave you wanting more.  That is the fallacy of intellect.  It appears to be solid ground but it is as illusory as quicksand or a bog.  And it changes as quickly as popular opinion and the wind.
            The prophet Isaiah wrote, “You will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast on You, because he trusts You” (Is. 26:3).  And when speaking of peace, Paul encouraged the Philippians to think on the things that were true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil. 4: 7-8) so it is not that we should turn off our minds when living the Christian life.  But it is important to be engaging our mind and intellect in the things of God.  The Athenians were enamored with the thoughts themselves but not actually interested in the truth.  Where has your mind been lately?  Are your thoughts grounded in the Truth or are they somewhere else (Rom. 8:5-6)?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
Week of 7/30/2017

            Our tour group clustered together in the lobby of the hotel.  We’d barely had enough time to drop our bags off in our rooms but we were excited to be heading out into the city of Thessalonica to see the first Biblical site of our “In the Footsteps of Paul” tour.  We shuffled along the modern streets until we arrived at the edge of the archaeological dig in the center of a commercial neighborhood.  We were not expecting what we saw.  The small area which had been uncovered showed the partial remains of the ancient agora and it looked more like a construction site than an archaeological dig.  To make matters even more humorous there was a log cabin at the center of the pit, presumably for those who were directing the excavation but we never did find out for certain why it was there.  It was an odd start to say the least, but it did have an impact on us when we realized that we were standing in a place which played a crucial part in Paul’s ministry and the spread of the Gospel.
            Thessalonica was the capitol of the Macedonian province and had a population of more than 200,000 people.  It was situated on one of the most prominent Roman highways, the Via Egnatia, linking the Adriatic Sea to the Middle East.  Its port, once a naval base and now a stockyard, was a major center for trade.  Unlike several other Macedonian cities on the Via Egnatia which were military towns, Thessalonica was a freed city, a privilege granted to them in 42 B. C.   Among its large Roman and Jewish population, one could find numerous religions represented; temples to Roman gods, a Jewish synagogue and oriental cults all jostled for devotees and their offerings.
            Paul came to Thessalonica after a successful ministry in Philippi and as it was his custom he headed to the synagogue to share the Good News (Acts 17:1-9).  For three weeks Paul engaged in evangelism and taught at the synagogue.  The Gospel was received by a wide spectrum of people there as it was in Philippi- Jews, God-fearing Gentiles and some of the city’s prominent women (vv. 2-4).  But jealousy reared its ugly head among some non-believing Jews who stirred up a crowd in the market place and attacked the home of a man named Jason in search of Paul and Silas.  The believers were accused of treason- a crime akin to blasphemy in Old Testament times- and in order to secure their release from prison, Jason (whom we presume to be a well-known leader in the synagogue) and the others must made a pledge (that is a financial contribution to the town coffers!) to keep peace (vv. 5-9).  Paul is then whisked away under the cover of night and his ministry in Thessalonica comes quickly to an end (Acts 17:10).
            It is obvious that Paul had a great deal of affection for the church he established in Thessalonica (1 Thes. 2:7-8).  From a ministry standpoint his stay there had been too short and his desire was to further instruct these new converts concerning godly living in a culture that was at best antagonistic toward their faith, and at worst violently opposed to it.  Since Paul had moved on to Corinth (and it appears he is unable to return for the time being, 1 Thes. 2:17-18) he has taken up a correspondence course to continue his teaching.  In the first letter he commends the Thessalonians for persevering in the midst of persecution (1 Thes. 1:3-7; 3:3-5), gives instruction on several aspects of living for Christ (1 Thes. 4:1-12; 5:12-24), and offers assurance concerning the future of believers who die before Christ returns (1 Thes. 4:13-18; 5:9-11).  In 2 Thessalonians Paul continues to encourage the persecuted believers (2 Thes. 1:4-11), corrects a misunderstanding concerning the Lord’s return (2 Thes. 2:1-12) and exhorts the believers to be steadfast and to work for a living (2 Thes. 2:13-3:15).
            When I look at the picture I took of the ancient agora in modern Thessalonica I tried to imagine what it must have felt like for those early believers to receive those letters from their teacher Paul.  My trip to Greece was the result of one dedicated Greek teacher, Dr. Shelly, so it’s not really hard for me to imagine the love between the two parts of this relationship since I’ve experienced it myself.  It strikes me as to how important those letters were since Paul’s physical ministry in Thessalonica lasted only three weeks (as opposed to Dr. Shelly’s class which was a single semester).  I rather doubt those early believers would have any inkling that the encouraging letter Paul wrote to them would encourage other believers thousands of years later but I’m thankful that they have.  It reminds me that I can do the same- and so can you.  Send an encouraging word this week to someone you know who needs it.  And when you do, why not close it with some of Paul’s words to the Thessalonians: May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (1 Thes. 5:23-24)
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.        
Week of 7/23/2017

          Have you ever seen a picture of a city that truly impressed you?  Did its buildings reach to the sky and glisten in the sun making you think it was a glorious place to be?  I have never been to Sydney, Australia but it strikes me as that kind of city.  Whenever I see pictures of the harbor with its well-known bridge and the beautiful opera house, I can’t help but think it must be a wonderful sight to behold if you are there in person.  Recently I saw a picture which showed me a different side of Sydney.  Gone were the iconic harbor structures and in their place was an industrial warehouse, water towers and the typical grime of commerce.  Most cities show you their best side on a picture postcard, but you only have to walk a block or two away from the main attractions before you start seeing their proverbial skeletons in the closet.
            The city of Corinth was both beautiful and seedy.  Due to its location Corinth was an industrial, political and cultural crossroad in Paul’s day.  As a regional capitol Corinth had a high political status.  Its industrial and commercial strength came from its location.  Corinth’s temples were artistically beautiful and they represented the broad spectrum of religions and culture within the city.   Temples to Apollo, Isis, Aphrodite and Asclepius as well as a synagogue dotted the Corinthian streets.  In spite of their apparent religious fascination the Corinthians were notorious drunkards and sexual immorality was rampant there.
            Paul went to Corinth on his second missionary trip.  Upon arrival he settled in the business district with Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tent-makers, and began ministering in the synagogue.  Opposition to Paul’s teaching eventually arose so he moved to the home of Titius Justus.  His most notable convert was a man by the name of Crispus who was the head of the synagogue.  His conversion must have caused quite a stir and perhaps was the catalyst which brought Paul before Gallio the proconsul.  Paul’s detractors were hoping to take advantage of Gallio’s reputation as a leader who could be easily persuaded to one’s cause, but he would have no part in their antagonistic relationship with Paul.  He dismissed the case and in anger and frustration the accusers beat up an innocent bystander (Acts 18:1-7)!
            Corinth was full of enticements: wealth, sexual pleasure, leisure, and self-centeredness.  Surrounded by beautiful architecture, a plethora of religious practices and economic freedom, it was easy to let any or all of those things become a distraction.  When you read the two surviving letters we have which Paul wrote to these believers, you will see that due to their environment the Christians in Corinth struggled with a number of sinful situations.  It is easy to point a finger at them and wonder how they could get so mixed up.  However, the more I look around at the church at large today, the more similarities I see and between my world and theirs.
            The issues the Corinthians struggled with (unity: 1 Cor. 1-4; sin within the church: 1 Cor. 5-6; marriage and divorce: 1 Cor. 7; doctrinal disputes: 1 Cor. 8-10; the role of women in the church: 1 Cor.  11; the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit: 1 Cor. 12-14; and the certainty of the resurrection: 1 Cor. 15) are still being argued over today.   The dynamics of living under the New Covenant (such as transparency: 2 Cor. 3; giving: 2 Cor. 8-9; and spiritual authority: 2 Cor. 10-13) are also just as important now as they were when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. 
            I don’t think those struggles have disappeared.  In fact, I think they are alive and well within the church today.  I meet more and more Christians who are willing to compromise God’s Word either to supposedly be a witness (I don’t buy it!) or so that they can avoid conflict.  They adopt and accept psychology’s explanation (i.e. excuse) for Sin over the Biblical view of our fallen nature.  A “touchy-feely” BFF view of Jesus and “experiencing” worship has taken away a balanced view of a loving but just God so much so that New Age and Eastern religions are viewed as acceptable modes of discovering Him.  It all looks so pretty on the post card- but just go a few blocks in and you’ll find a garbage dump.
            Paul’s challenges to the Corinthians are just as appropriate for us.  Everyone runs for a prize (It all looks great on the outside.) but only a few receive one so the race is won by discipline (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  Choose what influences you wisely and be on the alert for negative influences (1 Cor. 15: 33-34).  Be vigilant and stand firm (1 Cor. 16:13) because the mind can be easily led astray from simple and pure devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).  If we find that we have been tarnished and muddied then we must rid ourselves of that which stained us (2 Cor. 7:1).  Most importantly we are to be vigilant in testing and examining our lives so that our faith stays on track (2 Cor. 13:5).  Are you buying into the Corinthian postcard of today’s culture?  Don’t buy into the picture; instead set your sights on the Lord (1 Cor. 5:12-20; 10: 1-14, 31).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.                                                                                                  
Week of 7/16/2017

            The song We Built This City was released as the debut single of the U.S. band Starship in 1985.  Even though it was commercially successful it was cited as the number one “worst song of the 1980’s” by Rolling Stone in 2011.  We Built This City is an indictment against the music industry which the band felt had marginalized and stolen from them.  The lyrics and title refer to San Francisco, the band’s hometown, but Cleveland, OH. (home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) and New York City (nick-named “The City That Never Sleeps”) are also mentioned in the lyrics.  Opinions will remain divided on this song as long as people compile “best” and “worst” lists pertaining to music.  And cities will continue to claim their superiority or contributions to history as well.  It seems to me to be one of the foundations of pop culture.
            Tradition claims that Rome was founded in 753 B. C.  It was originally ruled by a succession of kings but changed to a republic around 509 B. C.  After years of political strife within the governing body (the Senate) and attacks from enemies without, the leadership of Rome was assumed by a series of emperors.  This form of government was called the Principate and it is within this framework that the New Testament was written.  Just as the Roman Empire and its crown jewel, the city of Rome, was a complicated but well-structured entity, so also is the letter which Paul wrote to the believers in this prominent city.  Barclay wrote, “Romans is at once a very complicated and a very carefully constructed letter”.  Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart noted, “While theologically minded people love it, others steer away from it (except for a few favorite passages), thinking it is too deep for them”.  Yet across its verses are contained some of the most foundational components of faith: righteousness, grace, the role of Israel in salvation history, and the unifying work of Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Paul’s concern was that the church in Rome had divided itself like the ethnic neighborhoods and craftsmen had done in the city.  Division in the church was not glorifying God, nor was it conducive to the spread of the Gospel. 
            Paul’s letter is comprised of four parts (1:16-4:25; 5:12-8:30; 9:1-11:32; 12:1-15:12) and each part ends with a personal declaration of faith by Paul (5:1-11; 8:31-39; 11:33-36; 15:13).  The first part deals with the issue of human sinfulness, how it affects everyone and Christ’s ability to bring us into a right standing with God based on faith in Him.  Abraham is used as the prime example of faith in this portion (4:13-16, 22-25).  The second part illustrates how Christ and the gift of the Spirit bring about the kind of righteousness the Law could only point to (Rom. 5:15-21).  The third part is directed to God’s dealings with Israel, His faithfulness to them in spite of their unbelief, and the relationship of Gentile believers to the nation of Israel in God’s salvation history (11:1-2, 11-12, 17-18, 25-32).  The fourth and final part instructs all believers on what righteousness looks like within the believing community and outside of it (Rom. 12:3-9; 15:1-6).
            When my son Erick was in his teens he constructed a make-shift shed in our backyard.  There was no foundation and I’m pretty sure the sides were held together by nothing more than a few nails.  When we moved it was left behind and we assumed it would eventually fall down and be dismantled.   Amazingly we discovered recently that it is still standing!  Most people know that without a foundation, a building will eventually fall.  It was Paul’s desire that through his letter the believers in Rome would have a solid foundation of faith.  The letter offers the same to us as well.  The key to reading Romans is to understand its literary format.  Known as “diatribe” it is much like a dialogue in which a teacher attempts to persuade students concerning the truth of a given philosophy through a series of questions and answers.  When someone raised a voice of objection the teacher would respond emphatically, “By no means!”  After this a logical flow of ideas would be presented to first quell the student’s objection and secondly to show how it was incorrect.  The Book of Romans is structured like this with Paul imagining some of the questions and objections he might encounter from the believers in Rome and then answering them.
            The Gospel is the foundation of our faith according to Paul (Rom. 1:2-4, 16-17) and Paul believes that whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, faith in Christ has eternal benefits.  As you read through the remaining chapters you will find that every idea, explanation or argument flows from these verses.  Our faith is like a building.  How we live and practice our faith reveals what we’ve built our faith upon.  What lies underneath your building?  Is it a solid foundation or is it shifting sand (Mt. 7:24-27)?  The truths found in Romans are a good checklist to go by.  It’s time for you to call the Building Inspector and see how your foundation measures up (1 Cor. 3:9-15)!
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div. 
Week of  7/9/2017