Paul Peter and Mark

This class, Honors New Testament part 2, has helped me discover who Paul is. Before his class, honestly too my embarassment, all I knew of Paul was that he is a follower of Christ. Through this class I was able to follow Paul through his journeys until his final records in Rome, the city of his citizenship. We know this because when Paul is at the Herodian Temple mount the Romans save him, because he is a citzen, and he also speaks perfect greek and Hebrew. Luke is Pauls traveling compainon and wrote Acts Lukes account can be trusted because he quotes Mark and he was in the right places to do the research and personal interviews. Luke however, corrects marks order. Mark is Peter’s scribe, and therefore the book of Mark contains Peter’s Memoirs. Mary is the mother of Mark, she owns the room where the last supper was held. Peter and Paul were both strong sayers of truth. When Peter and John were arrested, Peter anounces to the rullers that they killed Christ. Mark was the missionary compaion of Paul and Barnabas. In the end of Paul's life he writes to Timothy and asks him to bring John Mark. Mark going to Rome completes the triangle between Peter and Paul.

Crandall Printing Press

Last week instead of going to class we attended the Crandall Printing Press on Center Street, in Provo. Like I have said in previous blog entries, I really enjoyed the opportunity that we have in this class, to get outside of the class room and learn about things that I would never have the opportunity to learn about otherwise. I have run past the Crandall Printing Press museum quit frequently and noticing that it is quite a small building I assumed that the tour would be relatively short. To my surprise the tour was two and a half hours! The information was relayed through 3 experienced men; two printers, and one historian. These men have given of their time and their savings to make this knowledge known to everyone. Similar to the bible seminar in the special collections, they focused on how things have been “published” over time. What I enjoyed, was learning about the Gutenburg press. Not only did we get to hear about the press, we were able to reenact everything in it. We made moveable type and we even printed a page of the bible in latin! We also learned about the founding fathers and how they produced the Declaration of Independence. What especially interested me was learning about how the Book of Mormon was published. The basement was my favorite room and was modeled after the original printing press where the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon was produced. I was touched as these men bore their testimonies of the divine help that was necessary to complete this impossible task in such a short amount of time. I was touched and it helped me understand and helped strengthen my testimony of the importance of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon contains a FULNESS of the gospel. I know that everything that happened, including the legacy of the Johannas Gutenburg, was in preparation for the publishing of the Book of Mormon. This opportunity to attend this museum lecture has helped me to understand and gain a greater appreciation for God’s hand in bringing forth the precious book of truth that we have, The Book of Mormon.

Gracious in Grace

It is important that Paul went to Jerusalem, however, the topic that I feel impressed to write about after our last discussion is the grace of God. I really enjoyed reading about the letter of Philemon written by Paul while he is in prison. Paul confronts the topic of slaves, in this his shortest letter. Paul has received a slave who has run away from his owner, Paul’s friend. Paul attempts in this letter to convince his friend to accept his slave back. Paul baptized the master and most likely has now baptized the slave also. Paul redefines the master-slave relationship. As we discussed this letter we said that its main importance was simply the fact that it was written by Paul and that the content wasn’t that important. However, I really loved the message that it brought to me. Because God is gracious in grace, we need to be gracious in grace. If Jesus Christ was willing to save us we need to be willing to save others. All of this is part of his commandment to ‘love one another.’ I know that Jesus Christ died for mankind, and that we can never do what he did for us. However, he has asked us to come to him, and to become like him. To become like him we must be gracious in grace.

Types and Shadows

I love Dr. Holzapfel’s class because it is not only based on lecture but we are able to to a lot of extracurricular activities. Last week, instead of class, we went to the BYU Museum of Art and attended “types and Shadows” exhibition. This exhibition specializes in religious artwork. As we entered the exhibition the first painting that caught my eye was a piece by Arnold Friberg. He is one of my favorite religious artists and I was so excited to see one of his originals up close. To my surprise, much of the artwork that we looked at wasn't the classic LDS art that we se in the Ensign and in the temples, such as Friberg’s work. At first I was skeptical of why such works, which didn’t even depict a religious scene should be included in a religious exhibit. However, lucky for my ignorance, the curator did a good job of explaining what different things could symbolize. The painting entitled “Daily Bread” by Lee Bennion gave me the most grief. The painting depicts a woman in simple clothing offering a piece of bread in her apron. Although I still don’t feel like this piece of art quite belongs in the gallery I now understand it. The bread could be representing the sacrament, or Christ (“I am the living bread” (John 6:51)). And the woman's arms could represent Heavenly Father’s “Arms of mercy [which] are extended” (Alma 5:33). Although I now understand this painting, and I am able to appreciate it, and I believe that I am allowed an opinion and an opportunity to say that I still am not the biggest fan.

My favorite picture in the gallery was entitled “Exchange No. 8” by Ron Richmond. The painting is of an upright chair with a white sheet draped over it, in front of it is a fallen chair with a read table cloth draped over it. There are many squares in the picture, and the whole painting is surrounded in a circle. I love the symbolism of chairs, of the “mercy seat” or of a throne. The standing chair had a pure white cloth that was the purist part of the picture. It was twisted perhaps giving the feeling of a robe. The red cloth on the fallen chair seemed to reflect imperfection and possibly sin. What touched me is when the curator said that “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). I felt like that scripture completely encompassed the artists purpose for the painting.

Paul's Letter to the Romans

I the many of the different letters that Paul wrote he used secretaries, or scribes to relate his messages to the people of different lands as a substitute for personal visits. Romans is a unique letter because it is believed to be written in word for word verbatim of what Paul actually dictated. The book of Romans was written to the churches that Paul had authority over, and is not to be read as a biography but more as a theology.

In the first verse Paul introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. In this context the word ‘servant’ is equivalent to ‘slave’. According to the Hebrew tradition everyone has a master. When Paul says that he is the Slave of Jesus Christ he is calling Christ his master. This also acts as a representation that he is a good person because he has a good master. Because he is referring to Hebrew tradition, Paul is inferring that Christ is Jewish. Paul also makes this known by referring to Christ as the son of David. In the second half of the first chapter. Paul declares that humanity is fallen, and that all are condemned to go to hell. Paul makes it sound like due to the weakness of the natural man, any man if under certain circumstances and in certain places could sink to a fallen state. Paul makes a standing argument: we are only men and we are weak, none of us are invincible. We as mankind are still able to be influenced by the devil even in the small aspects of life. Therefore, if any man claims perfection, he is indeed lying because no one is sinless.

As Christians we don’t set the terms for our own sacrifices, our sacrifices are determined by what the Lord has asked of us. Christ too sacrificed himself in accordance to what Heavenly Father asked of him. In 5:7 of Romans, Paul says “scarcely for a righteous man will one die”. I would even add to Paul’s truth by saying that man will not give up their lives for anyone whether it was a righteous man or a sinner. After talking about how all of humanity is sinners and that it is rare that a man would die for another Paul made one of his most powerful points. One of my favorite things that Paul said is that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We are all so imperfect, we are sinners, yet Christ was willing to give up his perfect life-- even if it would have only been for me. Paul describes the the process of the Atonement and all of its power, and then he councils the Romans to follow it. In Romans 8:35-39 he said “who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life... Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christ did all of that for us, so that we might have the unconditional opportunity to be saved. To me this brings powerful zeal, I will not let anything, no not anything halter me in my understanding and use of the Atonement. Christ died so that I may be free from my sins. I will not let him die in vain for me. I will not bleed again what he already bled for me. For I will not let anything separate me from the love of my God, and my brother Jesus Christ, who by mercy allowed me to be free from the damning effects of sin.

Charity= Christ

In our class discussion last Wednesday in Honors New Testament, we discussed 1 Corinthians, and the multiple ways in which it can be interpreted. Paul says that even if we have the tongues of angels it will not be sufficient if we do not have charity. Even if you could know, understand, and predict everything, without charity, that would be nothing. I love how Paul that faith to move mountains is nothing with out charity. We know from (James 2:20) that “faith without works is dead.” The bible dictionary defines faith as a hope for things which are not seen, but which are true. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Faith is an action action, but without charity it is nothing.

If charity is more important than knowledge, faith, and prophecy it begs the question: What is Charity? Paul said that charity, “suffereth long, and is kind, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemingly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth.” Paul continues the list of the traits of charity saying that it “bearith all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” It “never faileth.”

If charity is the pure love of Christ, it is the highest type of love. Without Christ we cannot experience charity-his love for us. Therefore this chapter can also be read by replacing the word “charity” with “Christ.” Christ is perfect. Without Christ, there is no need for faith or hope. Christ “suffereth long, and is kind, vaunteth not [Himself], [Christ] is not puffed up, doth not behave [Himself] unseemingly, seeketh not [His] own, is not easily provoked, [Christ] thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth.” Paul continues the list of the traits of [Christ] saying that He “bearith all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, and [Christ] endureth all things.” Christ “never faileth.” Christ is our Savior and Reedemer. Without Christ we would be overcome with the consequences of our sins. No imperfect thing can dwell with God. Without Christ we are all sinners, and we cannot return to live with our Heavenly Father. Because Christ chose to be our Savior he was able to suffer all things, and he chose to endure all things. He was able to undergo the great atoning scacrifice which frees us from our sins. He was able to endure every pain and heartache. Charity, the love of Christ is the reason that he came to earth as our Reedmer; it is the reason we worship him today and know him as brother, Savior, and friend. As the apostles of today have said “God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”

Paul's Views of the Second Coming

Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians were written in place of a personal visit, from Corinth. In these letters even though we can only read Paul’s dialogue, however the Thesalonian’s concerns are easy to discern though Paul’s council. The Thessalonians, from a previous encounter with Paul, have learned about the second coming and this is a main concern. It seems as if the people in Thessaloniki have become over zealous with prophecies concerning the second coming. Some have stopped working anticipating the return of the Savior. Others have taken it to another extreme where they have begun to commit many sins because they believe that Christ will soon come to redeem them. The books first and second Thessalonians are letters from Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus to the Thessalonians. Paul reminds the people the “the Lord cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Here he tells them that no one knows the time when the Savior will return, and that no one will be expecting it. This is the council that he gives to those who have put away their regular lives, who have quit working and supporting them selves, with the foolish belief that nothing mattered anymore because the Savior was soon to come. To the other group of people who had begun to commit sins, Paul gave a different piece of advise. He said unto them “Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (Thessalonians 5:6). Paul advises the people not to sleep, or to stray away from the gospel principles, but to keep the commandments. When Paul refers to the ‘last days’ he is actually referring to the end of the first century church, the apostasy. Although Paul wasn’t talking about the last days before Christ would return, we can apply his teachings to us in the latter-days. In these days, some say that because of things like natural disasters or the crumbling economy that the time of Christ’s coming is at hand. Many refuse to buy insurance, or don’t live within their means because they think that the time of the Saviors coming is on the horizon. These people can also learn from Paul’s letters that “the Lord cometh as a thief in the night”. No one knows when he is coming, only that he is. For those who are living an “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” lifestyle, Paul’s letters also ring true to to the truth that we need to be constantly preparing at all times for the second coming of the Savior. Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, remind us in the latter-days that although we may not know the exact time of his coming, we must prepare ourselves that we may be ready to meet him.

Bible Seminar

Last week instead of having our Honors New Testament class with Dr. Holzapfel we went to a Bible seminar in the bottom of the Herald B. Lee Library. The speaker at the seminar worked in the special collections section of the library and specialized in ancient writings. I have never taken into deep consideration all that has happened to get the Bible to this generation. The speaker talked the many different writing materials such as clay tablets, bronze plates, and papyri that have been used throughout the different time periods. I was fascinated with the clay tablets, the sample was so much smaller than I would have expected and it amazed me that something like that, which would surely break if it was dropped had lasted that long. The brass plates also interested me, I examined the characters on it and the way that they were written made it obvious that it was no small task to write on these plates. Papyri, the seemingly earliest forms of paper, was just reeds matted together in two different directions. The fragility of them surprised me. Knowing that some of these papyri, which predated Christ, have been found intact in the latter-days amazed me.

The speaker then began to talk about the monks copying down the Bible first on to books with pages made with the hide of calfs. This then evolved into paper. The flawlessness of these books amazed me. We learned that erasing was done using a knife, and for larger sections a piece of pumice. The process that the monks and nuns went through to duplicate these books amazed me. When making copies of the Bible, each monk would take a different section and copy it. They would unify their handwriting to make sure that the entire book looked like it had been written by the same person. The books that we were shown were beautiful. The pages had elaborate art work with paint and gold leafing. However, the parchment was the most expensive part of the book, even more expensive than gold leafing and colorful writing. The Papyrus was so precious, that even when it was damaged they used it, sometimes writing around holes.

The people who owned books had to be wealthy, and even if they were wealthy they could only afford a few books. Cairo had papyrus before Europe, but Spain was the first place that had paper within Europe. Gutenburg, a goldsmith in Germany 1440 created a printing press. Gutenburg was not trying to change the appearance of books, he was merely trying to make it faster, easier and more reliable. Sadly, he eventually became bankrupt. Learning about the history of the Bible and books in general gave me a greater appreciation for the many wonderful books that are so easily accessible for me.

In Galatians we read about Paul’s passionate opinion concerning the law of circumcision. After Christ death it appeared to the apostles that there were two ways to convert a gentile into christianity. One way being, first converting the gentile to Judaism and then to Christianity. Paul had a different, and to some a controversial, view on the matter. He felt that the conversion to Judaism was unnecessary and a a gentile could bypass becoming a Jew to become a Christian. Peter, on the other hand, was an apostle who believed in the Jewish conversion, and therefore circumcision, of all gentiles was necessary to convert to Christianity. In Gal 2: 16 Paul states that salvation is brought to pass “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.” Paul asks the Galatians, “received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Gal 3:2). Paul is criticizing the Galatians saying that the way to receive the Spirit is not simply by following a prescribed set of laws, but by seeking after Christ through faith. He also tells that those who seek Christ, having faith, are the children of Abraham. Here Paul is describing the higher law. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Gal. 3:13). Paul is announcing that it is no longer requisite to follow all of the Jewish traditions. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, the people are now required to show their faith. “No man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11). “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3: 28). Paul likens the law unto a school master. He points out that as teachers are required at a certain stage, so is the law. However, after the schoolmaster faith is developed, and once faith is developed there is no more need for a schoolmaster. In all reality, Paul wasn't concerned with the actual procedure of circumcision itself. Paul had a more serious matter on his mind, the matter of salvation. “For Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal 5:6).

The Beginnings of a Spiritual Journey

I am really excited to begin this spiritual blog. This week our prompt was Acts 2. I honestly have never read through Acts before this class. When I first read Acts 1-4, I learned a lot but I couldn't believe how much my learning was magnified when I went to the class discussion. There were so many things that I had never thought about before. During the class the New Testament came to life for me. It was transformed from merely seeing it as a story, which I believed to be true, to realizing that there were actual people, children of God, who lived in a different time period. In class the week of Christ’s death was portrayed from many different perspectives. I had never really thought about the government official who talked to his wife about Christ being a menace, or how he rejoiced with his wife, relieved once Christ was gone. But what made the biggest impact on me was realizing the reaction of the apostles once Christ was gone. My heart ached for them as I imagined the pain they felt thinking that their whole lives worth of service were over. I hurt for Peter after he realized that he had fulfilled Christ’s prophecy- he had denied his master three times. It made me think of my sins and shortcomings. I am so imperfect and when I deliberately go against Gods will, especially in the tiny little things that I justify to myself saying that they don’t make a difference.

I imagined the miracles and the profound happenings that occurred during Christ’s 40 day reign. Before the apostles had had their hesitations while Christ was on the earth, they didn’t fully understand his greatness and his power. But after seeing him resurrected in the forty day ministry their doubts were gone and they preached without fear. I love how Peter told the people that the God that they had been worshiping is Christ, and that he came to them, and they killed him. I cant even imagine 3,000 people being baptized in one day. That was the power of the firsthand witness of Christ. Yet even after Christ was gone his name held power. They blessed, baptized and performed miracles in his name. The critics tried to ban the use of his name, because they too saw the power within it. This discussion set fuel to my already burning testimony of Christ. I know that he lived. That he died. That he was resurrected and taught his faithful servants. That his life has no bounds: it neither started in Bethlehem nor ended on Calvary. He is my savior. My Redeemer. My God.