Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

There are literally thousands of saints who have preceded us in death whose lives, if we knew about them, would be worthy examples for us to follow. Unfortunately, however, we do not know about them and must wait until we meet them in heaven to learn of their noble deeds. However, there are a number of Christians concerning whom short statements are made in the Scriptures which show that their lives are also worthy of imitation. Such is the case with a couple of noble Christians, a man and his wife, named Aquila and Priscilla.

The Scriptures do not have a lot to say about these Christians. As a matter of fact, reproduced below is the sum total of the Scriptural comments about them:

After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers . . . . And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there . . . . And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 24-26).

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, ,but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house (Rom. 16:3-5).

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house (1 Cor. 16:19).

Salute Priscilla and Acquila, and the household of Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 4:19). Let us notice the lessons which we can learn from their lives.

Lessons From Their Lives

1. These people loved the Lord and the brethren more than they loved life itself. The passage in Rom. 16:3-5 demonstrates that they were willing to lay down their life, not only for the service of Christ, but also in the service of His servant Paul. They had, indeed, learned the lessons regarding putting. Christ first in their lives. Jesus said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk. 14:26): Apparently, they had learned this lesson.

In addition to this, they had also learned love of the brethren. John wrote, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn. 4:19). In the service of the Lord, this is exactly what this godly couple had done; they had “laid down their own necks” for Paul’s life. We need to learn to put Christ first in our lives and to live to serve, as this couple did.

2. These Christians gave of themselves to promote the gospel of Christ. The first evidence which we see of this is that they opened their homes for the travelling servant of the Lord, Paul (Acts 18:1-3). During the time that Paul worked in Corinth, he stayed with this man and his wife. Hence, they were “given to hospitality,” willing to entertain strangers (see Heb. 13:1-2; 1 Pet. 4:9).

In addition to that, they opened their home in order to provide a place for the church to assemble (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19). Having worshiped with brethren who met in the home of one of the members on some occasions, I know a little of the inconvenience which this places on the people opening their homes. Yet, this couple opened their home on more than one occasion for the church to assemble and meet. This shows to me the extent of their dedication in the service of Jesus Christ.

3. They shared the gospel with their friends (Acts 18:24-28). The account of Luke relates their work in showing Apollos the way of the Lord more perfectly. It demonstrates their zeal in teaching others the right ways of the Lord.

Apollos is a good person to study in himself. He was an Alexandrian Jew who was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. I know quite a few eloquent men, through the television and radio networks, but none of them are “mighty in the Scriptures” as was Apollos. He was “fervent in the spirit,” a man of zeal. He had the courage to speak boldly and the desire to spread the truth of God’s word which he knew. Hence, he came to Ephesus to tell what he knew about the Christ. Despite these attributes, he knew very little about the Christ.

His sole source for knowledge about the Christ came through John the Baptist. It was limited to what John knew. Remembering that John died early in the ministry of Jesus Christ; we can rather safely assume that Apollos knew nothing of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the atonement, the sending of the Holy Spirit, the ascent into heaven, and many other important truths revealed to us by Jesus. Hence, Apollos had only partial knowledge of Jesus.

Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and taught him the word of the Lord more perfectly. This couple knew Jesus and wanted to share Him with their friends. They had imbibed the zeal of the Christians to take the gospel to every creature under heaven (Acts 8:4-5; Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; 2 Tim. 2:2). We need to remember several important facts about their teaching the gospel to their friend, Apollos.

These humble tentmakers took the educated, eloquent, “mighty in the scriptures” Apollos aside and taught him. Sometimes, men learn the truth from the lowly and simpleminded. The most important professors which Apollos ever sat under were Aquila and Priscilla. (His willingness to be taught by such a couple as this manifests admirable traits in his character.) Furthermore, Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos despite the fact that they were not full-time preachers supported by the church to spread the gospel. Sometimes we have the tendency to expect all of the preaching to be done by those who are supported from the congregational budget. Aquila and Priscilla did not have that attitude.

In order for the gospel to be taken to as many people as possible, we are going to have to cultivate the attitude that every man is a gospel preacher. Our older men need to teach the gospel on the job, our older women need to teach the gospel to the people with whom they work or meet as their neighbors in the community; our younger boys and girls need to spread the gospel to their friends in the schools across this nation. When Christians learn this aspect of spreading the gospel in contrast to expecting the supported gospel preachers to do all of the preaching, the church will grow faster.

Let us notice that Priscilla participated in the teaching of Apollos. The Scriptures plainly so state. There is no hint in the Scriptures that Priscilla usurped the authority over Apollos (1 Tim. 2:12). Yet, she participated in the teaching. Women need to realize that they, too, have a responsibility to help spread the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. In many of the passages where the word “man” is used, it is used without respect to gender and, therefore, obligates both man and woman to work to spread the gospel. Such is the case in 2 Tim. 2:2 which states, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Women are commanded to be “teachers of good things” (Tit. 2:3). Let us be careful not to impose greater limits on the woman in her teaching than the Scriptures impose. Furthermore, let us get the gospel in the hands of every Christian and engage all of us in spreading it!

4. They were wise in the manner in which they did their teaching. Jesus sent forth His disciples to preach the gospel telling them, “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16). Paul instructed the Colossians, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (4:6). Knowing how to answer the different kinds of men is not easy. Hence, Paul wrote, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” (1 Thess. 5:14). Similarly, Jude said, “And on some have compassion, making a different: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (23).

Aquila and Priscilla knew how to handle Apollos’s instruction. They did it at the right time (when they heard), in the right place (they took him unto them) and used the right message (the way of God). They did not seek to embarrass Apollos by publicly correcting him. They did not treat him so harshly in their rebukes that they drove him away from the truth. Rather, they carefully taught him more about the ways of the Lord.

Another thing that we need to notice about this couple, they did not simply ignore the differences in doctrine which existed between them and Apollos. The modern ecumenicals, both inside and outside the body of Christ, tend to salve over the doctrinal differences which exist and pretend that unity can exist in spite of the major doctrinal differences. That was not the method of Aquila and Priscilla.

Conclusion

We need more couples dedicated to the service of the Lord as this couple was. Too often, a family is divided religiously; one member chooses to serve the Lord and another member chooses to go the way of the world. Even among Christians, one member is sometimes on fire with zeal for the Lord and the other somewhat lackadaisical. The amount of good which can be accomplished in such situations is decidedly less than when both members of the family labor in the same harness to bear the load of spreading God’s word.

Remembering the example of Aquila and Priscilla, let us examine our families to see if we are laboring together as partners in the Lord. Our wives are “heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3:7); hence, let us work together in our service to God as did Aquila and Priscilla.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 15, pp. 243-245
April 12, 1979

By Larry Ray Hafley

We look at the heroic deeds and epic accomplishments of God’s great and grand men of the past. We are thrilled and enthralled when we recall the mighty and majestic efforts of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Jonah – you finish your- own list of the names of the men of faith and courage who inspire you. Now, your mind is racing and picturing Paul and others in moments that grace the pages of sacred history. Are you not made to feel that you, too, could be one of those who could and would succeed in the work of the Lord during a fateful and historic time? Surely, you are!

Accordingly, we watch the sports heroes of the day as the news brings us word of their latest achievements. We bask in the glimmer of memories of men who were dead before many of us were born. We love to hear the stories of their finest hours. We can hear the crack of Babe Ruth’s bat. We can see Ty Cobb and Lou Gehrig, or Willie Mays, Stan Musial, and Hank Aaron! And what do we see? Why, we see their supreme efforts, their brilliance which will always illuminate the world of sports. Again, make your own list in your own favorite areas. Exciting, is it not?

But, now, come down to earth, to reality, to the often baneful, painful grind of day-to-day living. Yes, Noah built his ark and David met his Goliath, but these were moments out of a lifetime. So often we sit and dream of the “big event.” We will go to Nineveh! We will hit the big time by toppling the Goliath of our day and time, but we will not be bothered with the simple, mundane affairs of life. That is where we miss it. You see, David would never have approached Goliath had he not met the lion and the bear out there alone in the wilderness. Noah would never have built the ark had he not taken time to raise a devout family and live a godly life from day to day. While you rave about one of your sports heroes, he is presently sweating, forcing his mind and body to practice one more hour, to run one more mile. This fall and winter you will see him blaze into glory and the hall of fame, but his blaze would be a mere flicker if he were not suffering somewhere right now.

And that, my friend, is probably why many of us will never be sent to Nineveh. We are not teaching our friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers. So, who are we to invade the citadels of error? We are not bravely challenging the lion and the bear in local situations; so, who are we to rise up against the incredible hulk, Goliath? We are not taking the time to raise our own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; so, who are we to think that we should take charge of the construction of an ark? All these ancient worthies had to pay their dues in sacrifice. They paid the price. Remember, too, that when the big moment came, it was not seen as “my big chance” to “make good.” It was simply another confrontation. It became the “great event” after the fact. Surely, David had no idea, when as a ruddy, young lad he determined to defeat the “uncircumcised Philistine,” that his story would be told countless millions of times to thrill the hearts of all who hear it. That never entered his mind. He simply did what he felt he had to do at the time.

We will do as well; we will accomplish as much; we will be as great if we simply take up our cross daily and follow, Him. It is a; simple business of day-to-day living. Those who do it daily are the famous ones of tomorrow and the residents of heaven.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 15, p. 242
April 12, 1979

By Johnie Edwards

God expects his people to grow. Peter said, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). Again he said, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . .” (2 Pet. 3:18). Let’s notice some things about full-grown Christians.

(1) Grown Christians have convictions. Christians must not be as Paul said, “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). To have convictions is to be “grounded and sett4ed” (Col. 1:23). We must have our feet on the ground and know why we believe what we do.

(2) Full-grown Christians are faith contenders. Jude said, “. . . that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). We must be ready and able to stand up for the truth. We must know how to answer men concerning our hope.

(3) Christians put away childish things. Paul said, “when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11). We are admonished to “quit you like men. . .” (1 Cor. 16:13). This means to behave like a man! When members of the church pout and just have to have their own way, it is a good sign that they need to grow up.

(4) Full-grown Christians are strong. It is a command of God to be strong (1 Cor. 16:13). Paul said, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10). One way to be strong is to eat the right kind of spiritual food (Matt. 4:4) and exercise ourselves unto godliness (Heb. 5:14).

(5) Full-grown Christians are Christ like. We are told to have the “mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:5-8). We have been told to “follow his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). We must continue to ask ourselves, “What would Christ do or what would he say?”

(6) Full-grown Christians have influence. Influence is either for good or bad. Christians have good influence! Their lights are shining for good (Matt. 5:16). Their lives are ordered after the New Testament way of life. Are you growing daily?

Truth Magazine XXIII: 14, p. 237
April 5, 1979

By Irvin Himmel

Differences, disputes, debates, and disagreements are common among men. Religious people hold to diverse views. Controversies arise over doctrinal positions. When discussions are conducted and conflicting issues are brought sharply into focus, some people may change their thinking, but in so many cases the differences are not really settled.

Sometimes when controversy rages over a long span of time, and there are strong feelings and reactions involved someone will remark, “I wish that issue could be settled.” A person may become rather frustrated over a cleavage that develops among brethren, and he asks, “Why can’t This whole matter be settled to the satisfaction of everyone?”

Invariably, following a public religious debate in which disputants have pressed their points and exposed each other’s arguments to careful analysis, a disappointed soul who does not really want to think for himself will go away with a bad taste toward such discussions. His observation will be, “That debate did not really settle anything.”

Certain questions and issues may never be settled to the satisfaction of a lot of people, but here is a fact worth remembering: Many things are settled so far as God is concerned. The Psalmist put the thought in these words: “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psa. 119:89).

The apostles of Jesus Christ preached the gospel”with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven” (1 Pet. 1:12). Jesus told them before sending them into all the world, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). The New American Standard Bible renders this verse as follows: “Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” What the apostles preached was already fixed and settled in the mind of God in heaven. The Holy Spirit revealed it to them. They preached heaven’s message, not some doctrine which originated in human reasoning.

The New Testament reveals the things that are settled in heaven for the people of this age. Consider a few of them.

(1) It is settled in heaven that the blood of Jesus saves. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14). Jesus “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5). “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

(2) It is settled in heaven that faith is indispensable. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). “For by grace are ye saved through faith . . .” (Eph. 2:8). The salvation of the soul depends on faith. Peter said, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:9).

(3) It is settled in heaven that baptism is for the remission of sins. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ. Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26, 27).

(4) It is settled in heaven that baptism is a burial. Some people argue about whether baptism is sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. God settled that long ago for all who will follow His word. “Know ye now, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:3-5). “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). For an example of baptism, read Acts 8:36-39.

(5) It is settled in heaven that Christians are to live righteously. Paul taught that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit. 1:12). John wrote, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

(6) It is settled in heaven that it is possible for a child of God to fall away. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (2 Pet. 2:20).

Regardless of how unsettled we humans may be in our thinking, and no matter how many heated discussions we may have on certain subjects, the great truths revealed in the Bible are from God. Since the word of God is forever settled in heaven, it ought to be allowed to settle our disputes here on earth. If the infallible word teaches a certain point, that should be the end of all controversy on that point.

One who disputes something that is clearly taught in the Scriptures sets himself against God. How foolish is the individual who thinks he can alter or remove what is firmly fixed in the plan of God.

Truth Magazine XXIII: 14, pp. 236-237
April 5, 1979