Verse 8: For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Witness -> record, one who is a spectator of something
Romans 9:1 gives another example of Paul calling on God to be his witness: “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.”
Long for -> to yearn, earnestly desire, to pursue with love
Another example of Paul's heart: 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”
Adam Clarke paraphrased Paul’s idea here: “I call God to witness that I have the strongest affection for you, and that I love you with that same kind of tender concern with which Christ loved the world when He gave Himself for it.”
You all -> each and every one of you
In the day of this letter, there were many divisions of people: race, wealth, education, and culture. There were no bridges for fellowship. Each group was separate from the others. There was no fellowship or a brotherhood that joined them. Christianity was the first and only to bridge the gaps between the groupings. The Christians were known by their love for one another. Remember - Lydia, slave, jailor – all very different groupings of life.
Affection -> bowels: the bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews it is known as the seat of the tenderer affections, esp. kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc.).
Paul’s .. “interest in the saints at Philippi did not cease with his leaving their city. Through all the years that had passed he had borne them on his heart, and presented them to God in prayer.” Ironside
“The Lord always looks at His people as they will be when they are done” author unknown – It would be well with us if we could look at our brothers and sister in the same way (Ironside) – It would benefit us if others did the same for us as they can see our imperfections.
A painter has an image in his head of the end result. He starts painting the base of the image with grays and tans. A friend steps into the work area and the painter asks his friend what he thinks of the paint. He friend sees the drabness of the grays and tans. The painter smiles and knows what it will look like in the end.
It is not just enough to tolerate other Christians. You must enjoy their company. You must learn from them. Furthermore, this fellowship must be one that is constantly expanding to include other Christians, even those whom you have never met but with whom you are forever united in the Lord. (Boice)
Look at Romans 16:21 -> for an example of the crossover of groupings, cultures, levels, etc.
Timothy: a resident of Lystra (within Galatia), apparently, whose father was a Greek and mother a Jewess; he was Paul's travelling companion and fellow labourer
Lucius: a man from Cyrene (current day Libya, Africa) who was a prophet and a teacher of the church in Antioch
Jason: a Thessalonian (Macedonia – current day Greece) who entertained Paul and Silas, and could be Paul’s cousin
Sosipater: fellow tribesman of Paul (Achia, Greece)
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I used a few commentaries by the following authors: Boice and Ironside.
More to come!!
Much love,
Dawn
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