Men's Bible study today wrapped up Paul's letter to the new Christians he met and led for 3 weeks in Thessalonika so many generations ago (if 500 years is about 20 generations, then 2000 years ago is about 80 generations ago). Coming off the street in the predawn darkness of November to the warm light and the hot coffee of the table, my mind needed some warming up to the Word of God. Two different angles appeared before me to relate 2015 to long ago Thessalonika. One is an organic or physical identification: the ground on which these conversations and events took place can be visited on Internet satellite views or traveled to by jet today. And very possibly some of the people present back then have descendants still living in the vicinity today, either those Paul and Timothy worked with, or the descendants of the synagogue(s) that listened and finally ejected him, or those neither following nor chasing him away. That is one way to trace a line from then to now -in physical, literal, material terms.
Another way is social and organizational: the smooth lines of NIV printed text, complete with signposts of chapters and verses, neatly roll in continuous stream across the paper and come with convenient page numbers, Table of Content, and thematic subheadings give the impression to modern readers that Paul's Letters were composed, delivered, and received in a direct, unambiguous, and impactful way. Things like nit-picking, back-biting, personality clashes and maneuvering for higher status to one's peer reference group, or other 'politicking' are imagined to be absent from the written communications from Paul to his brothers and sisters in Christ. But by injecting these foibles and petty human features of social interaction to the process, then these letters come to life a little more like things today.
Another way is social and organizational: the smooth lines of NIV printed text, complete with signposts of chapters and verses, neatly roll in continuous stream across the paper and come with convenient page numbers, Table of Content, and thematic subheadings give the impression to modern readers that Paul's Letters were composed, delivered, and received in a direct, unambiguous, and impactful way. Things like nit-picking, back-biting, personality clashes and maneuvering for higher status to one's peer reference group, or other 'politicking' are imagined to be absent from the written communications from Paul to his brothers and sisters in Christ. But by injecting these foibles and petty human features of social interaction to the process, then these letters come to life a little more like things today.
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