Chapter 45—Written From Rome
This chapter is based on the
Epistles to the Colossians
and the
Philippians
.
The apostle Paul early in his Christian experience was given special
opportunities to learn the will of God concerning the followers of
Jesus. He was “caught up to the third heaven,” “into paradise, and
heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” He
himself acknowledged that many “visions and revelations” had been
given him “of the Lord.” His understanding of the principles of gospel
truth was equal to that of “the very chiefest apostles.”
2 Corinthians
12:2, 4, 1, 11
. He had a clear, full comprehension of “the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height” of “the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge.”
Ephesians 3:18, 19
.
Paul could not tell all that he had seen in vision; for among his
hearers were some who would have misapplied his words. But that
which was revealed to him enabled him to labor as a leader and a wise
teacher, and also molded the messages that he in later years sent to the
[470]
churches. The impression that he received when in vision was ever
with him, enabling him to give a correct representation of Christian
character. By word of mouth and by letter he bore a message that ever
since has brought help and strength to the church of God. To believers
today this message speaks plainly of the dangers that will threaten the
church, and the false doctrines that they will have to meet.
The apostle’s desire for those to whom he addressed his letters of
counsel and admonition was that they should “be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine;”
but that they should all come into “the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ.” He entreated those who were fol-
lowers of Jesus in heathen communities not to walk “as other Gentiles
walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God ... because of the blindness of
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