112
Sketches from the Life of Paul
will suffer loss. Though it is possible that those who have spent the
best of life in teaching error may, by repentance and faith, be saved
at last, yet their work is lost. Their life has failed of the good results
that might have been secured. Souls have gone down to ruin, who, by
a faithful presentation of the truth, might have been saved. Says the
apostle, “Let every man take heed how he buildeth.”
Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Though I be free from all men,
yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”
The apostle desired that his Corinthian brethren might be led to see
the selfish ambition and intolerance which they had cherished. Hence
he presents before them his own course of action, that they may by
contrast perceive the sinfulness of their conduct. He labored for men
of every nation, tongue, and people, and sought to meet the varied
classes on their own ground. He avoided making prominent the differ-
ence between himself and them. He strove to lay aside his personal
feelings, and to bear with the prejudices of the persons for whom he
was laboring.
When working for the unconverted Jews, he did not at once begin to
preach that which they regarded as dangerous heresy, but commenced
with doctrines upon which they could agree. Beginning with Moses
[161]
and the prophets, he led them gradually from point to point, comparing
scripture with scripture, tracing down the fulfillment of prophecy,
showing the evidence that Messiah was to have come, and the manner
of his coming. He then clearly presented before them the object of his
coming, and what he was to have done upon earth, and how he was to
have been received.
When he had given many discourses upon these subjects, he testi-
fied that the Messiah had indeed come, and then preached the simple
gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the craft which Paul mentions, saying
that he caught them with guile. He thus tried to allay prejudice, and
win souls to the truth. He refrained from urging upon the Jews the
fact that the ceremonial laws were no longer of any force. He cau-
tioned Timothy to remove any occasion for them to reject his labors.
He complied with their rules and ordinances as far as was consistent
with his mission to the Gentiles. He would not mislead the Jews nor
practice deception upon them; but he waived his personal feelings, for
the truth’s sake.