GetWisdom PaperturnSampler FINAL SinglePages - Flipbook - Page 84
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LIVING FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS
DATE
EPISTLE
CONTEXT
AD 52–53
1 and 2 Thessalonians
after second missionary
journey began
AD 57–58
1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians,
and Romans
after third missionary
journey began
AD 62
Ephesians, Philemon,
Colossians, and Philippians
during Paul’s first Roman
imprisonment
AD 63
1 Timothy and Titus
after being acquitted
AD 66
2 Timothy
during Paul’s second
Roman imprisonment
As we consider Paul’s “newness”—and by extension, the beingmade-new that each of us experiences when we follow Jesus—we
might find ourselves wondering how this utter transformation happens. Look again at Acts 9:15. God told Ananias, “He [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine.” When I look at this verse in the Interlinear
section of the BLB, I see that instrument (skeuos; σκεος, pronounced
skyoo-os) also means “vessel.”5 Like the white geometric vase on my
desk, which is filled with beautiful flowers, a vessel contains something. Is filled with something. God hand-selected this vessel (Paul)
that once contained judgment and pharisaical law, removed his spiritual blindness, and made him new . . . and now the vessel is filled
with the Holy Spirit. We know from Galatians that as we are filled
with the Holy Spirit, we pour out the fruit of the Spirit—which is
the very character of God.
7. What fruit of the Spirit might you expect to see emerge in
Paul’s writings? (Hint: See Galatians 5:22-23.)
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