Noble Christianity
  by Dr. Rev. Tim Trumper

The idea of a noble Christianity is based on Acts 17:11: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Before examining some of the things that are noteworthy from this text, we ought to say a little of the context and the message Paul was preaching.

At this juncture in Luke’s narrative Paul is fulfilling his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–18:22). Accompanied by Silas, he has traveled north from Antioch in Syria around the coast into his home region of Cilicia (today’s eastern Turkey). From there he travels a staggering 1500 miles across Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), before responding to the Macedonian call that took him into the northern province of what is modern day Greece. It is there, in the coastal city of Thessalonica, that we catch up with him in Acts 17.

As was Paul’s custom, he went first to the synagogue (v. 2), On three Sabbaths he reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures (i.e. the Old Testament), explaining and proving that Jesus was in fact the promised Messiah (anointed one of God). Critical to his message was not only the personhood of Christ (including, we presume, His offices: Priest and King [which authority includes his prophesying]), but also his work. He told them, in the words of Luke’s narrative, that “the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead”. While some of his Jewish hearers were persuaded and a large number of God-fearing Greeks and prominent women, overall they were opposed by a mob and were smuggled by night out of the city to Berea.

Noting the context of Acts 17:11, a number of lessons begin to appear: 

The Caliber of Paul and Silas

When we consider Paul’s and Silas’ experience at Thessalonica, Luke’s seemingly incidental words, that, “on arriving [at Berea] they went to the Jewish synagogue”, take on great significance. Flesh and bones like ourselves, they demonstrate the sort of caliber we need today.

First, they stuck to the will of God. What mattered to them was not their personal comfort, but the transmission of the good news of Jesus. To this great work God had called them. Although Peter was especially called to serve the Jews, Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles always followed on from his prior engagement with God’s ancient people at the synagogues of the cities he visited (cf. Rom. 1:16).

Secondly, they believed in the message. Not only did they risk their lives for it, they preached only the message. With this message they had honored Christ, proclaimed His gospel, planted churches, and challenged the Emporer cult and the polytheism of the empire. In the words of their critics, they had “caused trouble all over the world” (v. 6). Our Western world increasingly needs this “trouble” today. It will take, however, the spiritual caliber of a Paul and a Silas to effect it.

The Caliber of the Bereans

As noteworthy is how the Jews of Berea received Paul’s preaching.

Note, first, their nobility. Luke’s idea here is that they were open-minded in their reception of the truth. Now that is interesting, because in our day open-mindedness has come to be associated with rejection of Scripture and what it reveals. God, however, is calling His church to reach out with the gospel in such a way that we may gain a hearing, as did Paul. To succeed in this, Central’s membership must become one in its open-mindedness to what God has to say. This requires of us to use the Bible, to receive it as God’s Word, and to utilize it on its own terms. Central will only prosper spiritually, as we grow in this area.

Secondly, note also their balance. They were eager to receive Paul’s message, but were prepared to do so only so long as it accorded with what they believed Scripture to teach. In other words, they weaved between two extremes often prevalent in the church: a sycophantish following of the pastor on the one hand, and a critical spirit on the other that always rejects what he has to say.           

May God enable Central to express through her membership, ministry and witness the caliber of Paul, Silas, and the Bereans. Essential to the caliber of noble Christianity is:

• Confidence in the trustworthiness of the Bible and the saving truth of Christ it reveals.
• The fullness of the Spirit. He it is who enthuses us to search the Scriptures “every day” in discerning what is true, and who helps us to apply it broadly.

Blessed in these ways we shall see an increase of the churched (“Jews”) and the unchurched (“Greeks”) coming to own Christ as Lord and as Savior. Meanwhile, the onus is on us to gain that Berean nobility or open-mindedness to receive what God has spoken to us through Scripture.