Paul’s First Mission to Greece
READ Acts 16:16-21
What
issue do the men have against Paul and Silas?
By casting out the devil from the girl,
they have nullified the men’s revenue stream, as she was their “oracle” and
they received the money from the divining that she did through the evil spirit.
It’s not about religious or cultural
differences between Jews and Romans – this was about business.
READ Acts 16:22-40
Why
did the Magistrates fear when they were told that Paul was a Roman (citizen)?
It was illegal to beat or imprison a
Roman Citizen.
The penalty for this who abused a citizen
were severe.
Why
did Paul not say anything when the police first took them and beat them?
He could use the leverage against them
later.
He is buying the Church in Philippi some
police protection by taking this beating.
Why
did Paul not escape when the earthquake hit?
He knew the Jailer would be killed.
Again, he was buying some favor or
leverage.
Why
did the Lord send the earthquake if it wasn’t for Paul’s escape?
To give Paul a chance to show mercy –
that he could have escaped but knowing it would cost a man his life.
To get the jailor’s attention and show
His power as God – that He will take care of His servants, even if it requires
direct intervention.
To give the jailor a chance to hear the
gospel and be baptized.
READ Acts 17:1-10
How
did Paul teach the Thessalonians?
He went to the Jewish synagogues to
preach to them.
The content of this teaching was: The
Messiah was the suffering servant, not the vanquishing hero; He was to be
killed but would raise Himself from the dead; Jesus of Nazareth IS the Messiah.
He taught out of the scriptures – i.e. he
opened the scriptures unto them (they already had them and thought they knew
what they meant but, like the two on the Road to Emmaus, their traditions had
clearly blinded them to the truth.
Who
was open to the message?
Some Jews, a great multitude of devout
Greeks (converts to Judaism?), and many of the leading women of the city
(Gentile pagans).
What
did the unbelieving Jews do?
They colluded with the rough element of
town and kicked off a riot.
They attacked the home where the
missionaries were staying and dragged the homeowner in front of the local
government leaders (they couldn’t find Paul and Silas).
They extorted some “security money” from
Jason (mob style protection money).
When the Jews in Thessalonica find out
that Paul and Silas are preaching in Berea, they travel the 40 miles to break
things up there, too. Silas stays but
Paul is carted off to Athens in a ship.
Why
did Paul need to go but Silas could stay?
With his cultural background, Jewish
education and Roman citizenship, Paul is the threat – he’s the one that the
Jews are really targeting.
READ Acts 17:16-23
Who
is Paul primarily targeting for his preaching?
The diaspora Jews who live in Greece.
Why
is Paul so upset that Athens is “wholly given to idolatry”?
Greeks worship a pantheon of (false) gods.
It’s not just the Greeks that worship idols
– but it appears that the Greek way has infiltrated the thinking of the Jews in
the city; the philosophies of the Greeks (Plato) is the real problem, as it can
subtly influence and change the thinking of what and how the Jews worship,
without converting them to the worship of a Greek god.
In effect, they turn the true God into a
Greek god by influencing the Jews in their beliefs about the character and
attributes of God, His plan for mortals, their ordinances & festivals,
etc. It is the same thing that continues
today. If we want to be respected by
(i.e. popular with) the world, we will have to “reinterpret” some doctrines in
line with the society at large.
What
is wrong with wanting to hear “new things”?
Not all “things” are of the same value –
i.e. the internet contains almost an endless supply of “new things” but little
of it will save your soul.
The sense is that the Athenians loved to
talk about titillating “new things” but never managed to manufacture enough
faith to act on any of them; they loved to be thrilled – like going to the
movies to live vicariously through ideas and stories.
If the “new things” are the “mysteries of
Godliness”, there is nothing more important than seeking after, obtaining, and
then acting on those “new things”.
Being open and teachable to those “new
things” is absolutely necessary to salvation – “I have a Bible/Book of
Mormon/D&C and I need no more revelation” is an unwise route to take (see 2
Nephi 29:3, 8 and 10) – it assumes that you know everything that God wants or needs
you to know; the only way that is true is that you’ve already rent the veil and
know Him personally and the things He instructed you to do, you are doing (see
2 Nephi 32:4-7) – but even then, you’re still very much learning and growing.
What
is the problem with “ignorantly worshiping” the “unknown god”?
Without a correct idea of God’s
character, perfections and attributes (and an actual knowledge that the course
of life one is pursuing is according to His will), a rational and intelligent
being cannot exercise faith in God unto salvation (see LoF 3:2-5).
Enough doubt will exist in the heart of
the individual to undermine the ability to exercise saving faith – either they
will initially act in faith based on a set of supposed attributes about God
which in all likelihood are incorrect or incomplete and thus they are “let
down” because their expectations didn’t align with reality/truth, or they grow
“weary in the minds and faint” (see LoF 6:4) because they don’t know their
status before God or if they are even on the right “way” at all.
Things may be fine while the sun is
shining but when things don’t go well, doubt creeps in: Is He listening? Does He care about me? What is His will? What am I doing wrong? Does He even exist?
How
do we find out what the “unknown god” is really like?
Initially, He must be “declared” unto us
by one who KNOWS Him (not just one who knows about Him – which would be hearsay
and would only engender further doubt when pressed – the speculation of
scholars or priests is not the same as the testimony of true prophets who have
been in God’s presence).
This witness from a credible human
witness will either engender a desire to find God for oneself (with insight
regarding the Way to pursue the inquiry), or the faith of the individual will
fade and die, having never been acted on.
Ultimately, the “unknown god” only
becomes “known” when you meet Him (a “glorious discovery”) and receive promises
of Eternal Life that He cannot break (an “eternal certainty”), as some things must
be learned but cannot be taught by man – they must be experienced
personally and/or taught/told by God to us directly (see LoF 2:56).
READ Acts 17:24-32
What
does it mean that God “dwelleth not in temples made with hands”?
We are the “temple of God” (see 1
Corinthians 3:16-17).
The Spirit of God dwells in us (ditto).
The Holy Spirit is the mind of God, and
those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom possess the “same mind, being
transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of Him who
fills all in all, being filled with the fullness of His glory” (see LoF 5:2).
Note that this is not referring to the
Second Comforter – who does not dwell in us but visits us, but to the Holy
Spirit – this is how we become “holy” or like Him ourselves: we are animated by
His Spirit – we are truly one with Him.
What
does it mean that “in Him we live and move and have our being”?
Christ is “in all things” – everything in
this creation is sustained by the Light of Christ; He occupies it all by His
light – He is more intelligent that all of it – He keeps it organized by the
Light emanating from Him (see D&C 88:6-13).
This means at this very moment, you are
in contact with Him through His Spirit. He is giving you the life you are
presently living. The materials that our bodies are created of, and all the
elements and energy/light that sustain our lives belong to Him (see Mosiah
2:21, 25).
Why
did God make the world?
For us to have a place to exercise faith
in God.
So that mankind, cast out of His direct presence,
could seek and find Him.
Using these mortal bodies as an avatar in
which to do so, in a world of pain and suffering where our decisions have real
consequences on ourselves and each other.
What
was easy to have faith in while in God’s presence and what was difficult to
have faith in?
Faith in His/Their omniscience.
Faith in His/Their power.
Faith in His/Their love.
Hard to have faith in His/Their existence
– we KNEW them intimately, so it was not faith – it would have been difficult
for us to even imagine doubting their existence.
Hard to have faith in our autonomy –
difficult to have faith in agency – it took an act of faith by us to believe in
our existence or independence from Him/Them.
Christ took the first step and showed the way for others to follow. He began the process of acting by faith,
independently, proving for the rest of us that we could have faith in the
Father’s word.
What
does it mean to “feel after” God?
The initial connections with God in this
mortal world are as light and seemingly intangible as gossamer.
It is like we are blind (well we are,
spiritually – our minds are “darkened” without the Lord and His Spirit), and we
are “feeling” our way along without the light in this dark and dreary world
(D&C 88:49-50 and D&C 84:54).
Like the blind, we make use of other
senses to discern what is going on around us, but, like the blind, we miss much
of what is really happening because we cannot see the spiritual realm.
Only God has the light to quicken us or
heal us – which enables us to see things as they really are (see D&C 93:24).
We could not develop the kind of faith
God has while living in His presence.
Here on earth, we all think we are independent of Him. In fact, it takes an act of faith to even believe
in His existence, while in Heaven it took an act of faith to believe in our own
existence or independence from Him. He
is so far veiled from us that everything is now reversed. We have to be taught about Him before we
believe in Him. It is now more
challenging to believe in HIS existence than it is to believe in our own – this
is the opposite of how it was in heaven.
Paul’s Letters to the New Converts in
Thessalonica, Greece:
Thessalonica was the chief city of
Macedonia (northern Greece) due to commerce from its port. It was a “free city” within the Roman Empire
(no military occupation or taxation, and was allowed self-government). There was a sizable Jewish population in the
city. These two letters to the new
branches of the Church in Thessalonica were written shortly after Paul was
forced to leave the city (see Acts 17) in approximately 50 or 51 AD.
First Thessalonians contains an account
of the missionaries visit to the city (1 Thes 2-3), an exhortation to righteous
living (1 Thes 4:1-12 and 5:8-22) and a doctrinal exposition on the Second
Coming of Christ (1 Thes 4:13-5:7).
READ 1 Thessalonians 2:3-7
How
did Paul and the missionaries teach the gospel?
With boldness and plainness – they did
not sugarcoat the message to make it pleasing to those that heard it.
They risked being rejected because of
their plainness – because they feared/worshipped/respected God more than man.
They did not set themselves up as a light
or as a burden to be taken care of (i.e. paid or given gifts/charity to) but
they worked for their own support (see v 9).
Despite their boldness, they taught with
love and gentleness.
READ 1 Thessalonians 2:13
How
did the Thessalonians who converted receive the message?
They did not take the word of the men who
taught them, regardless of any bonafides/credentials or authority that they may
have possessed (remember Paul’s background which would give him the first,
although perhaps not the second, as he was cast out by the Sanhedrin).
They heard the voice of God through His
Spirit in the message; and no doubt prayed for a confirmation of its truth (see
1 Thes 5:17 and 19-21).
Second Thessalonians was written not long
after the first letter. It revisits the
subject of the Second Coming of Christ from the first letter.
READ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (including
JST) and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
What
is Paul’s warning to the Saints with regards to the events and timing of the
Second Coming of Christ?
There will be a falling away or apostasy
from the truth first.
The Second Coming was not an imminent
event for the saints at that time – or at least, they would suffer through an
apostasy first.
How
does Apostasy take place?
Apostasy is always an “inside job” – it
does not come from an attack from outside the Church.
Apostasy is a “falling away” and happens
at a personal level; having said that, if there is a Church organization in
place and those in leadership roles (i.e. have power in the organization) “fall
away”, they will subtly influence what is taught and how it is interpreted, and
the falling away will accelerate. This
is particularly true when leaders enjoy leadership and want to stay in power in
the organization – even if it’s for the members own good (implied is that the
leaders know better, likely because of their advanced righteousness and
intelligence vis-à-vis the rank and file members).
Why
is apostasy from within a much more effective tool for Satan than persecution
from without?
If you are subtle enough, you can make it
appear that nothing has really changed – “lull the people to sleep” and then
don’t “frighten them and wake them up” is the strategy, otherwise they may fight
you.
People may choose to die fighting for
what they believe in, but if you can change what they believe in – especially
if it can be like in the movie “Inception” where they think it comes from God
or themselves and not a third party, all the better.
What
does being a “son of perdition” require?
That the person sins against the greatest
light; i.e. they have received their calling and election and the High
Priesthood of God but then turn away from Christ, “crucifying Him again”, as it
were (see D&C 84:40-41).
In other words, they REALLY know what
they are doing but they desire power and authority in this world more.
What
does this “son of perdition” do?
He seeks authority, honor, credentials,
position, and recognition.
He seeks to control others, placing himself
between mankind (e.g., Church members) and God.
He wants to be worshipped as if he was
God or has His power; he claims to have God’s own authority given to him and
seeks to exalt himself.
He sits in the Temple of God – i.e. the
place of spiritual power and authority, acting as if he was God himself – that
he speaks for God.
He is then free to change the religion
revealed to the Saints by Christ, His angels, and His actual mortal prophets/messengers
– because he appears to be God or His true messenger.
What
doctrines does Satan attack first?
The nature of God (a perfect man vs. the
Trinity vs. no god exists).
The nature of Man (a child of God who can
attain to theosis vs. a favorite creation vs. the enlightened humanistic man).
The gospel of Christ (come unto Christ in
the flesh and be justified, sanctified, redeemed and sealed up to Eternal Life
by the Father vs. saved by grace or saved by works vs. saved by the authority
of men’s ordinances and priesthood power vs. no need to be saved at all because
this life is all there is).
What
is the process Satan follows to perpetrate an apostasy?
Make the true message very unpopular –
rile up the world against the message (i.e. the Hellenistic philosophers).
Discredit and then kill the true messengers
(Peter, Paul, Joseph Smith etc).
Replace the true messengers with subtle
purveyors of priestcraft; they seem like stewards of the faith at first but
gain control in time (some early Bishops).
Establish that the Priesthood authority
to lead through the Spirit is still with the Church and its councils; that God
will not allow them to be led astray (Catholic doctrine of the infallibility of
the Pope).
Establish that the authority to conduct
saving ordinances is not tied to the personal righteousness (spiritual power)
of the person administering it, but exists in the “keys” that the Church holds
(the Catholic Donatist Heresy).
Reinterpret the true doctrine to become
more popular with the world (reducing persecution of the Church members, and
leaders), then destroy or change the parts of the scriptures that are most
plain and precious to adhere to those reinterpretations (see 1 Nephi 13:26).
Make people fear seeking after and
receiving personal revelation and spiritual experiences; show them that there is
greater safety in a unity of faith through councils that are “aligned” through
the “Holy Ghost” as revealed to the Church leaders (“witch trials” for anyone
displaying spiritual gifts or discounting their testimonies as “weird” or
“fundamentalist”).
Tie righteousness to Church positions so
that only leaders should receive revelation and major spiritual experiences
anyway, because only they cannot be deceived, and only they are worthy to
receive them because of their greater personal righteousness as demonstrated by
the fact that they’ve been called into a certain Church position (power of the
Catholic priest).
Help the people to realize that they no
longer need new revelation anyway, they have all they need – they just need to
do a better job of living it (Closed Biblical canon).
Keep people fearful for their eternal
salvation and under the control of the Church leadership; cast out or kill
those who are a threat to the regime (the confessional; mandatory religious
taxes; Spanish Inquisition or equivalent).
Tie material blessings to righteousness
to show that “all is well in Zion, yea, Zion prospers” so all must be well (wealth
of Vatican City).
Then use the wealth that comes with
grinding the faces of the poor to consolidate power within and outside of the
Church. And use all of that as proof
that God is with the Church - so don’t leave it and you’ll be saved! (the
political power of the Holy Roman Empire).
READ 2 Thessalonians 3:8-13
What
is the example that Paul gives to the Thessalonians?
That true priesthood works for its food –
it does not trade “blessings” or “religion” for financial support.
He is warning them against priestcraft.
He is telling them that the leader is the
servant of all – like Christ washing the feet of the apostles – “be not weary in
well doing”, i.e. do the things Christ did = serve and minister to the least.
Do not use tithing or offerings or temple
revenues (or the investment or interest income from such) to support the
priests and leaders in their lifestyles.
