[Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
—Acts 18:24-26
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
—1 Corinthians 3:5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
—Galatians 6:1
What does it mean to be the body of Christ? Does that include acting on His behalf, addressing needs on His behalf, showing gentleness on His behalf?
It seems easy to use a first-person mind-set when reading Psalms that use first-person language. What if we read them differently?
This doesn't imply the blasphemy of trying to be in the place of God. But it does recall that, after Isaiah was told that his sin had received atonement, he was willing to say, “Here I am! Send me.” And it does recall that the Lord's people are called to reflect His character.
Paul's letter to Galatia contains instructions to be gentle and humble even when dealing with outright “transgression”. That contrasts sharply with the culture that surrounds us today, in which any kind of difference of opinion escalates rapidly into outrage and hostility. (We can think some other time about the role of insecurity in that kind of escalation, and about how Satan uses insecurity to provoke us to bad behavior.)
In addition to instruction, Scripture gives us practical examples, like that of Apollos and Priscilla and Aquila. Apollos used his talents and used what he understood. He was courageous. And when he began, his knowledge was incomplete. Instead of making a public spectacle or shaming Apollos into silence for speaking with less than perfect understanding, they worked with him privately. Their gentle and humble approach reads almost as answering the plea of Psalm 71, as they not only avoided harshness in their conversation, but also helped protect him from future confrontations by people of less Christ-like attitudes.
As members of the body of Christ, they acted on His behalf, addressed a need on His behalf, and showed gentleness on His behalf. They gave gentle refuge to Apollos.
Gentle Refuge
Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
—Psalm 71:3-4
[Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
—Acts 18:24-26
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
—1 Corinthians 3:5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
—Galatians 6:1
What does it mean to be the body of Christ? Does that include acting on His behalf, addressing needs on His behalf, showing gentleness on His behalf?
It seems easy to use a first-person mind-set when reading Psalms that use first-person language. What if we read them differently?
This doesn't imply the blasphemy of trying to be in the place of God. But it does recall that, after Isaiah was told that his sin had received atonement, he was willing to say, “Here I am! Send me.” And it does recall that the Lord's people are called to reflect His character.
Paul's letter to Galatia contains instructions to be gentle and humble even when dealing with outright “transgression”. That contrasts sharply with the culture that surrounds us today, in which any kind of difference of opinion escalates rapidly into outrage and hostility. (We can think some other time about the role of insecurity in that kind of escalation, and about how Satan uses insecurity to provoke us to bad behavior.)
In addition to instruction, Scripture gives us practical examples, like that of Apollos and Priscilla and Aquila. Apollos used his talents and used what he understood. He was courageous. And when he began, his knowledge was incomplete. Instead of making a public spectacle or shaming Apollos into silence for speaking with less than perfect understanding, they worked with him privately. Their gentle and humble approach reads almost as answering the plea of Psalm 71, as they not only avoided harshness in their conversation, but also helped protect him from future confrontations by people of less Christ-like attitudes.
As members of the body of Christ, they acted on His behalf, addressed a need on His behalf, and showed gentleness on His behalf. They gave gentle refuge to Apollos.
And that gives Him the glory.