Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Chizuk Emunah (Pt 2) Under the Microscope: Chapter 92

1 Thessalonians 2:10, Paul says, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe."

In a teacher of men, whose object it was to establish a new faith, it appears unbecoming to mention first, men, as witnesses, and secondly, God. A candid perusal of the writings of Paul accounts for this peculiarity of arranging his ideas. He impresses on the reader the suspicion that he was guided by expediency, more than by true religious feeling, and that his mind was not influenced by the elevated sentiments of piety. 

1 Thessalonians 2 is the section of Paul's letter where he reminds the Thessalonians about his own activity among them. Paul asks the people of Thessaloniki to remember how he greeted them and how he worked so that he would not be a financial burden to them. Paul did not  just share his message with them, but helped them in their worldly needs as well. He tells them that they are witnesses to this, and adds God's witness as an after thought.

Troki's argument here is pedantic. I need not even quote rabbinic literature to show how silly he is. Isaiah writes "your iniquities have med a separation between you and your God." Is Isaiah wrong to mention the people first and then God later?

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