Bible Study by Elias Aslaksen

Bible Study by Elias Aslaksen

Galatians 6:2-5 and Romans 16:1-5. It is possible to think that you are something and yet be nothing; it is also possible to think that you are a little bit more than you are.

“For each one shall bear his own burden.” Gal. 6:5. This does not mean—as so many people think—that you should worry about things that you can’t manage yourself, for that would void verse 2: “Bear one another’s burdens . . . .” It must be read in connection with verse 4: “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Bearing one’s own burden means that we are responsible for our works.

People boast of what others are. For example, it is an honor to belong to an assembly that is highly regarded. People like to boast about that. They receive the honor and the glory that belongs to the assembly. However, if it is an assembly that is not as highly regarded, they hardly dare to admit that they go there.

Something is not nothing, and nothing is not something; everything is what it is. We can see this practiced in Paul’s greetings in Romans 16: “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” Vs. 1-2.

Here we have a sister who had helped many, including Paul. It doesn’t say whether it was in spiritual or earthly things; it states simply that she had been a helper.

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” V. 3. This was a married couple; both man and wife were fellow workers. Therefore a woman can also be a fellow worker. You consult with a fellow worker and make plans together with him concerning the work in God’s kingdom. A fellow worker must be a spiritual person. A person is spiritual who, within a certain period of time—whether it is long or short; it takes time in every case—has made it a habit to do God’s will so that it has gone into his blood—it has become natural for him. When he testifies, prays, or whatever he chooses to do, he does it because it is God’s will, for the others’ sake, and in order to serve the others. On this point everyone can test himself as to the real motivation for his works. A carnal person is someone who does what occurs to him, what he wants to do.

“Who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” V. 4. They had performed works. They had endangered their own lives for Paul’s sake; we don’t know how, just that they had done it. This is the point at which people stop when it concerns works. The human heart says, “I’ll be able to manage it, suffer it, deny myself.” But then it doesn’t do it. It deceives itself and is satisfied with words instead of with deeds. In 1 John 3:18-19 it is written, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” When our heart wants us to believe that we should be able to manage this or that, we should not be too quick to believe it, but rather doubt it, for the heart is deceitful above all things. Jer. 17:9. Then it is prudent to say to your own heart, “I want to see that.” We have enough words; we must have facts. It is possible to be deceived by the words of others, and it is possible to deceive others with one’s own words. But facts are indisputable.

“Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” Rom. 16:5. As we can see, they were also hospitable. There are enough people who imagine they are extremely hospitable; who say that if only they had enough room, if only they had a nicer home, if only it were like this or that, then they would invite guests. Yet no one benefits from their hospitality. However, about these two it is written that they received the church into their house, which was not a small work.

“Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.” V. 5. Why does Paul call Epaenetus “my beloved”? Was he being partial? Are there distinctions in God’s kingdom? Yes, in accordance with righteousness. This means that he did not make a distinction according to the inclination of his heart. He didn’t say about one person, “I like you; I will be good to you,” and to another, “I don’t want to have anything to do with you.” Yet there is a difference between people, and he treated them accordingly. Jesus also acted like this. It is written that John was the disciple whom Jesus loved and that he leaned back on Jesus’ breast. Then Jesus says to His disciples Peter, James, and John to come with Him, and to the others that they should remain there. Why were the disciples not offended when Jesus made such a distinction between them? It could not be because they saw that it was righteous. The reason had to be in their upbringing. Just as parents bring up their children by not letting them have everything they like but by giving them what is good for them, so Jesus had educated them in this distinction from the beginning.

Because it is written about John that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved, people think that he was such a kind, sweet man; on the contrary, none of the apostles are as sharp in their letters as he is.

It is not written that Peter was the disciple whom Jesus loved. However, to Peter He says: You are the rock, and on you I will build my church. He did not say to John that He would build His church on him. Peter did not have the qualities that John had, or vice versa. He could not build His church on John, but He could build it on Peter. He had the qualities that were necessary. He was filled with zeal and ardor. This is something that is required of someone who is to build a church. For example, Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, but when he heard that then he would have no part in Him, he went to the opposite extreme. Then he wanted Jesus to wash his entire body. None of the other disciples were able to deny Jesus the way Peter did, but then he turned around again in the opposite direction. The person who is zealous can butt his head against many a post, but then he will also get back on the right path.

A zealous person runs the risk of ending up in many things. However, the person who is asleep is in the greatest danger. He tests himself and decides that he is not asleep; he is not in danger; everything is going well. Jesus says, “I could wish you were cold or hot.”

Who is the beloved? Who is the king’s friend? In Proverbs 22:11 it is written, “He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.” In other words, it is someone who loves purity. Perhaps he lives in all quietness, takes care of his house, and pays his debt. But when something happens, it becomes evident who he is. There must be purity—purity over everything!

It says further about Epaenetus that he was the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Since Paul writes this about him, it must be important. Writing in those days was not such an easy matter as it is nowadays, so what was written had to be of the utmost importance. They wrote on large scrolls that had to be carried over great distances. The first person in a place has no one before him on whom he can rely for support. He cannot say, “This is a nice place, I am going to stay here.” Not everyone can be the first; therefore God chooses someone He sees can manage to be that.

“Greet Mary, who labored much for us.” V. 6. It doesn’t say what kind of work this was, whether it was done wisely or profitably. All it says is that she had labored much for them. Every one of those who were being greeted sat there and listened as the letter was being read. When they heard about this Mary, perhaps there was someone who thought, “Yes, but the kind of work she did!” But then the Spirit of truth would immediately say, “Yes, but it doesn’t say what kind of work she did.” Then this person had to admit that. In this way everyone who heard these greetings and knew the people could say, “Yes and Amen” to what was being read, because it was true.

“Greet Andornicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles . . . .” V. 7. Is it something great to have a good name? Yes! It says in Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” Having a good name among bad people—is that anything great? No, for in the world they praise only their own, so it is a doubtful honor to be praised by them. Therefore it makes a difference among which group of people we have a good name. It is a great thing to have a good name among the apostles. Adronicus and Junia were known and tested by the apostles, and they could recommend them to others so that they, in their turn, could have confidence in them because of the apostles’ testimony. The apostles’ testimony was just as good as the facts. It is impossible to work with souls without their confidence. Confidence is the key into their hearts. Even if I have more wisdom and love, it is not helpful if I do not have the others’ confidence.

“Who also were in Christ before me.” V. 7. Here Paul mentions this point again of having been in Christ before him. He had no part in their salvation; he didn’t want any praise to which he was not entitled.

“Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.” V. 8. It doesn’t say that he was a fellow worker, neither does it say that he had assisted nor that he had risked his life or was hospitable or had labored much. Maybe he had not done any of these things, but he was beloved. Paul loved purity of heart.

“Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.” V. 10. He had endured some special trial. We don’t know what that was, but it was something decisive. So they knew that he was trustworthy. One could have such thoughts about many people, but you couldn’t say it because they have not been tested.

“Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.” V. 10. He had nothing to say about them, neither this nor that, just that they were along.

“Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.” V. 12. He was beloved and had labored much in the Lord. It is not written about him that he was a fellow worker, but such a person would quite surely, by being faithful, grow up to be a fellow worker. Perhaps next time Paul would write about him he would write “our fellow worker who has labored much in the Lord.” But if he became slack in the work, then Paul could only say: our fellow worker.

“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord . . . .” V. 13. We don’t know what Paul meant by “chosen.” Perhaps he was the only God-fearing person in an ungodly family.

Verses 14-15. In conclusion, he mentions a fair number of names all together about whom he has nothing to say, just that they were along.