Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 200

Scan transcription helps with searching and selection. Use the printed page above for exact spelling and punctuation.

PAUL REVISITS CORINTH . 193 apostleof Christ, not by the willof men , but by the power of God . He describesthe visit which he made to Jerusalem to secure a settlement of thevery questionswhich are now agitatingthe churchesof Galatia, as to whether the Gentiles should submit to circumcision and keep the ceremoniallaw. This was the only instanceinwhich he had deferredtothejudgment of the other apostlesas superiorto hisown . He had firstsought a private interview, in which he setthe matter in allitsbearings beforethe leadingapostles, Peter, James, and John. With far-seeingwisdom, he concluded thatifthesemen couldbe led to takea right position, everything would be gained. Had he firstpresented the question before the whole council, there would have been a division of sentiment. The strongprejudicealreadyexcited because he had not enforced circumcision on the Gentiles,would have led many to take a stand againsthim. Thus the objectofhisvisitwould have been defeated, and his usefulnessgreatly hindered. But thethreeleadingapostles,against whom no such prejudiceexisted, having themselvesbeenwon tothetrueposition,broughtthe matter before the council, and won from all a concurrence in the decisionto leave the Gentiles freefrom theobligationsoftheceremoniallaw.Paul furtherdisprovedthe accusationsof his enemies,by showing thathispositionas an apostleof Christhad been acknowledged by the councilat Jerusalem, and that in his labors among theGentileshe had compliedwith thedecisions of that council. Those who were seekingto destroyhis influence, professedto acknowledge Peter,James,and John as pillarsof thechurch. 13