Examine Everything Carefully

1 Thess. 5:21
    
    “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). I have quoted these verses often. They are fantastic truths of scripture. As I study the way christianity was taught in the first century, I see the need for examining everything more and more. Last week, I wrote about Acts 17 and how Paul, Silas, and Timothy went about preaching, but more importantly the reception to their new teaching. The Bereans were considered “noble minded” because they “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). This was good for Paul. He was a master in the Old Testament Scriptures. He had an educational pedigree that was unmatched (Acts 22:3), he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” and concerning his knowledge of the Law, he was a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5). We might think that someone who was so specialized in the Law, would have an excuse not to be well versed in other religions. However, later in Acts 17 we can read Paul teaching pagans in Athens. Not only did Paul understand their belief systems, this is seen with his understanding of their gods dwelling in man made temples, needing mankind to worship them, and making their pagan images, but Paul also quoted one of their own pagan philosophers, Epimenides “For we also are His children.” It was clear that Paul not only “talked the talk” in his first Thessalonian letter, he “walked the walk.” If we are going to good teachers of the Bible, we must examine the belief systems around us, compare them with the Bible, and be prepared to use it. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley