Proving who Jesus is

Major Nigel Bovey examines Paul’s approach to sharing the gospel

ACTS 17:1–15

LIVE worms – for the manufacture of compost or for use as fish bait – come in biodegradable cartons. Opening a can of worms, therefore, is strictly metaphorical –and Paul is not averse to prising open the occasional contentious lid.

The can of worms Paul opens in Acts 17 is the expectations of the Messiah. He starts with ‘explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead’ (v3). This is a frustratingly rare venture. For, while Paul spends three days in Thessalonica doing so, he does not write three verses on the topic.

Paul has arrived in Thessalonica and – ‘as was his custom’ (v2) – he worships at the synagogue. While this verse describes Paul’s practice, little in Scripture betrays his personality. Some of Paul’s attitudes – towards women in church (see 1 Corinthians 14:34), gay people in the Kingdom (see 1 Corinthians 6:9) and slaves in society (see Ephesians 6:9), for example – are hard for many believers to accept 2,000 years later. However, the fact that he is allowed to speak on ‘three Sabbaths’ suggests that he must have had some measure of winsomeness about him.

Before looking at his message, let’s examine his method: ‘He reasoned with them from the Scriptures’ (v2).

The Greek word for ‘reasoned’, dialegomai, indicates dialogue. It does not mean monologue. Paul was as prepared to listen to others’ opinions as he was to give his own. Reasoning is not ranting. Reasoning requires being reasonable.

Pause And Reflect

When talking to other people about God, how reasonable are we?

To what extent, do we need to be more winsome so that we can win some for Jesus?

Paul then sets about ‘explaining’ (v3). In the King James Version, the word used is ‘opening’. The word ‘opening’ suggests not an opening statement but an ‘opening of the body’ – a dissection of the Scripture. From this holy body of work, Paul extracts and exposes the vital truths about Jesus. By so doing, he hopes to open his hearers’ minds and hearts to the reality of Jesus.

Paul then goes about ‘proving’ (v3). The Greek word used for ‘proving’ – paratithemi – literally means ‘beside (para) place (tithemi)’. Effectively, Paul makes a statement about Jesus and then supports it by quoting relevant Scripture.

Pause And Reflect

How much better do you need to know what the Bible says about Jesus?

Verse 3 identifies Paul’s threefold message: ‘the Messiah had to suffer’, the Messiah had to ‘rise from the dead’, and Jesus ‘is the Messiah’.

In his letters, Paul mentions ‘Christ’ nearly 400 times. He writes about Jesus in relation to the Law. He talks about Christ’s role in the future but he never does on papyrus what he does in Thessalonica. He uses ‘Christ’ as a name and never, as Peter does, as ‘the Christ’

(Matthew 16:16 KJV). Surprisingly for a scholar, there is no recorded systematic exposition of Jesus as the Messiah in the way that fisherman Peter lays out at Pentecost (see Acts 2:2–36).

In my book Keys to the Kingdom, I identify four main expectations of the Messiah prevalent at the time of Jesus. The Sadducees do not expect a messiah. The ascetic Essenes believe they will co-lead an uncontaminated Kingdom with the Messiah. The Zealots are prepared to hasten the arrival of the Messiah by overthrowing the occupying Romans. The Law-promoting Pharisees – Paul’s heritage party – want a mighty Deliverer Messiah to rid Israel of blasphemous foreigners and restore the Davidic kingdom.

As the Sadducees were a priestly class based at the Temple, it is highly probable that most of Paul’s synagogue audience are Pharisees who believe in an allconquering restorer of Jewish pride. The idea that the Messiah should ‘suffer and rise from death’ is foreign – blasphemous – to them.

In his dialogue, Paul slices the Scriptures and then places prophecies beside the life of Jesus as ‘proof’ of their ultimate fulfilment. Perhaps he explains the identity of the Prophet (see Deuteronomy 18:18), the Suffering Servant (see Isaiah 53), the Sufferer (see Psalm 22) or the Holy One (see Psalm 16).

Not only must Paul get his audience to accept this new view of the Messiah, but he must also get them to recognise that this version of the Messiah is fulfilled in the crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth.

Such a sea change in thinking is unlikely to happen in one conversation, which is perhaps why Paul makes return visits. Sharing the good news about Jesus takes time and commitment.

Pause And

REFLECT

How much do we believe in Jesus as the Messiah?

Thessalonica is one of Paul’s three recorded synagogue discussions. In Corinth, ‘every Sabbath he reasoned [dialegomai again] in the synagogue’ (Acts 18:4). In Damascus, he was ‘proving that Jesus is Messiah’ (Acts 9:20–22). Here, again the word for ‘proving’ (sumbibazo – ‘together join’) suggests a logical placing and connecting of single pieces of evidence to complete a big picture.

Technically, ‘proof’ belongs only to the disciplines of mathematics and logic. Legal ‘proof’, for example, is based on the balance of probability and requires evidence ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. Scientists do not say a theory is ‘proof’ but prefer instead to talk in terms of the ‘best possible explanation’.

In matters of faith, there is no knockdown proof. We cannot prove the existence of God, the resurrection of Jesus or his return as the Messiah. We can, however, open up the evidence, piece it together and match it to what the Bible and our own experiences say. Then, being winsome and reasonable, we can engage in dialogue with those who have yet to decide about the Messiah.

Prayer Matters contains daily devotions covering specific areas in the territory, current worldwide situations and personal reflection and relationship with God. A PDF of the unedited booklet is available to download from salvationist.org.uk/resources

THE LORD’S PRAYER FOCUS by

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY

Tendayi Mafemera (Southwark)

Lord, give me all that I need for this day, forgive my wrongdoings and lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. Amen.

GENEROUS DISCIPLESHIP FOCUS by

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY

‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31). Lord, open our eyes and ears so that we can wallow in the beauty and wonder of the world that you have provided as our home. Amen.

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY

‘Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour’ (1 Chronicles 29:11). It’s easy to assume ownership of things lent to us. We may think that they are ours and don’t belong to God. However, our lives are his, and we have opportunities to give back to him what is already his. Give back to God in prayer these things in your life: time, talent, treasure, work, relationships, dreams and ambitions.

TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY

‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’ (John 6:9). A little becomes a lot in the hands of Jesus. God can do amazing things with what we have to offer if we are but willing to place it in his hands. Amen.

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY

‘I give best when I give from that deeper place; when I give simply, freely and generously … I give best when I give from my heart’ (Steve Goodier). Gracious Lord, help us to mirror your generosity in all the areas of our lives. Amen.

THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY

Lord, you give to us so generously and we give our thanks. As we consider our giving, help us to trust you in these days of financial challenge. Enable us to be responsive and generous so that your work in our community prospers and grows. We pray for your blessing and presence as we become generous in our discipleship. Amen.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS: WALKING WITH GOD

by Karen Findlay (Wellingborough)

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY

‘I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people’ (Leviticus 26:12 New Living Translation). Father God, thank you for the promise of your presence. We rest in the truth of the promise that you are walking with us, that you are God and we are your people. Amen.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Do you have something or someone you’d like us to pray for? Email salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk with ‘prayer request’ in the subject line and the Territorial Prayer Network will uphold them in prayer.