Words of Fire: The Early Epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians and the Galatians
Overview
Paul’s letters to the Thessalonica and Galatia are not words of disinterested philosophy nor cold catechetical teaching. They are words of fire, burning with the love of God and his people. These early epistles have endured through the centuries to burn in our hearts as well. In Words of Fire: The Early Epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians and the Galatians, Farley works from a literal translation of the original Greek and examines Thessalonians and Galatians section by section, explaining their meaning in contemporary language.
Top Highlights
“It expresses here, not a casual attitude to God, but the loving warmth and intimacy of our relationship with Him” (Page 133)
“St. Augustine helped to popularize the more obvious one: that St. Peter, in order not to alienate his Jewish friends, acted inconsistently with his own Faith and was justly corrected by St. Paul. It was not that St. Peter changed his mind or reversed his opinion after the Council of Jerusalem held earlier. Rather, in a moment of weakness (not his first—compare Matt. 16:22; 26:69–75), he failed to maintain the courage of his convictions.” (Page 109)
“For to love is to serve. Love is not a feeling or an emotion. It is an action, an offering of lowly service, even as Christ girded Himself to wash His disciples’ feet (John 13:5).” (Page 151)
“This faith always produces such works (James 2:14f), realizing itself with power through love. The Judaizers claim that ignoring the Law (as St. Paul seems to them to do) will result in moral anarchy. On the contrary, the apostle here says, faith works through love, fulfilling the intent and goal of the Law. It is this saving faith that is the content of life in Christ Jesus—this and nothing else.” (Page 147)
“In baptism, we are joined to Him, sharing His Crucifixion and Cross, co-crucified with Him (Gr. sustauroo) so that we might also share His Resurrection life. This new life is not my own; it is Christ’s. His life is now mine. Or rather, He lives His life through me: it is no longer I myself who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Page 116)
- Title: Words of Fire: The Early Epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians and the Galatians
- Author: Lawrence R. Farley
- Series: The Orthodox Bible Study Companion
- Publisher: Ancient Faith
- Print Publication Date: 2010
- Logos Release Date: 2013
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. 1 Thessalonians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Galatians › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Thessalonians › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9781936270026, 1936270021
- Resource ID: LLS:WRDSFRRLYPSTLSS
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T21:09:39Z