Paul's Teachings on Christ's Second Coming

Paul’s teachings on preparing for the Second Coming were prevalent both in the lives of the saints to whom he wrote his epistles, as well as in our own lives today. Especially in his epistle to the saints in Thessalonica, Paul addresses his concern with their beliefs of the Second Coming. He also especially addresses how such beliefs were impacting the way the members were living.

Because of differences in the concept of time for God and man, many of the early Christians were of the opinion that Christ would be returning within their life time. Some even believed it was a requirement that they be alive to witness his return to the earth. They were of the opinion that they would be saved soon, giving them completely the wrong attitude about the manner in which they should live their lives. For example, some of the people thought they could sin or live recklessly. They thought it didn’t matter since Christ was on his way and would save them.

Paul taught the importance of looking to the Second Coming with faith and hope, while also preparing for the long haul. He specifically prophesied that the “falling away” of this generation was the apostasy or destruction of Christ’s first church on the earth that would soon come. He taught that we should always live our lives as if Christ is coming tomorrow, while also living as though he won’t be coming for a long time.

This is a significant balance that members seem to always struggle to understand, both in the times of the early church, and now. Even today there are people who are so confident in their interpretation of what it means that the Savior will return “soon” to the earth. They look to the apocalyptic day with much more earnest than doing the day to day work to live righteously and prepare themselves. Because we don’t know precisely when the Savior will return, we can’t simply put our lives on hold. As Paul taught we must exercise faith and hope in his coming, yet prepare ourselves.

It shouldn’t matter when Christ comes. We should always be striving to align our lives with the teachings of the scriptures and modern day prophet and apostles. We must follow Christ’s example in reaching out to others and make service a routine part of our interactions with all those we meet. If we are always striving to improve ourselves and live worthily, it won’t matter when death or Christ come.

I am sure it must have been difficult for Paul to know that these saints whom he loved and worked so hard to bring to the gospel of Christ would witness the Great Apostasy. His enduring struggle and perseverance despite this frustration are a manifestation of his incredible faith and testimony. He truly knew his Savior, Jesus Christ, and of his purpose here on this earth. I am so grateful for his example, as well as for his teachings that are just as prevalent today as they were for the first century church members.

BYU Library Special Collections Presentation

My experience at the Special Collections presentation I had the opportunity to visit this week was one I enjoyed immensely. I spent the fall semester in London on a BYU Study Abroad Program, where I got to see in museums and libraries some very old texts and artifacts. That experience made viewing BYU’s collection that much more significant to me. I was impressed by the broad range of our collection.
Something that especially stood out to me was getting to see one of the original 5,000 Books of Mormon that were printed so many years ago. I love history and historical artifacts! I also really appreciated seeing the progression of writing through the history of our world. I have read about the ancient use of papyrus as writing material in my history textbooks, but to actually see and feel it was an incredible experience. No wonder ancient texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls have been not only preserved, but preserved very well. The writings we have today of ancient origin are so extremely important: they provide us with history, with our scriptures, with significant insight into the past. We talked in the seminar about scribes and their role throughout the ages. I wonder if they fully comprehended the degree of importance to which their occupation would later prove.
Recording history would have been such a difficult task, especially considering the resources that would have been available to them. I think I often take for granted how easy I have it today with a pencil or pen and paper, and even keys on a keyboard. I was amazed when our presenter showed us a small stone tablet, no bigger than the palm of my hand, that had writings engraved upon it. We were told that the scribe molded clay into the shape of the tablet, and then engraved the symbols we now see before the clay was completely dry. The intricacy is phenomenal.
I also really enjoyed seeing the books used for the Bible in medieval times. The color and detail added to each page makes it truly a work of art. One book we were shown took eleven years to complete! No wonder books were so rare and expensive. It was also interesting to feel the pages, made from animal skin. Writing and record keeping has always been such a process, but definitely an essential one. We were also shown two pieces of parchment: one hand written and the other printed on the printing press. I was shocked at how identical they were to each other. The invention of the printing press was such a blessing though.
I am so grateful for this opportunity we had to go as a class to this Special Collections presentation. I really learned a lot and enjoyed seeing these ancient records. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the scriptures I’m studying in context of their historical background and the work that went in to making them possible.

Paul's Concern About Circumcision

Paul was concerned with implementing the old Jewish tradition of circumcision in the beliefs and practice of newly converted followers of Christ. Though he himself had been a Pharisee, and therefore a practicing Jew prior to his miraculous vision on the road to Damascus, he did not feel it necessary. He believed the practice of circumcision had been instituted to provide for the Israelites a symbol, a covenant of obedience between they made with Jehovah. It was an essential physical manifestation of their keeping the Mosaic Law.
With Christ’s coming to the earth, however, the Law of Moses was fulfilled in Him as He himself preached. Paul recognized circumcision as part of this fulfilled law. He believed that the Jews had become so focused on the literal practicing of the Law of Moses, that they had come to forget its original purpose. Its original purpose, as Paul knew and preached, was to teach them to look to Christ. In focusing so much on their belief in the necessity of circumcision, Paul felt the other apostles were completely missing the true significance of conversion.
As many of Paul’s converts were Gentiles, they were not accustomed to this Jewish tradition of circumcision. Paul recognized that the essential and most important component of their conversion was their change of heart. He especially addresses this concern in his epistle to the Galatians, whom he reprimands for so easily being led away from the truths of the doctrines he taught them by the false teachings of others. In this epistle he also addresses his conflict with a few of the other apostles because of their commitment to circumcision. He felt what was important was that these Gentiles had accepted Christ and turned their hearts and lives to Him. Christ had come and established His church upon the earth. It was not then necessary, Paul felt, for his Gentile converts to be forced to first convert to Judaism, and then to Christianity. Paul’s feelings of concern towards circumcision arose from his insightful understanding of what it means to be truly converted to Christ’s church.

Acts 2

The second chapter of the book of Acts in the New Testament is extremely significant in its discussion of the disciples receiving of the Holy Ghost. They received it on the day of Pentecost, adding to the significance and symbolism of the event. I love the image in the third verse of the appearance to each of them of "cloven tongues like as of fire" which sit upon each of them. This chapter is a manifestation of Christ's promise that when he could no longer reside with them, he would send his Spirit to be with them. I wonder if they truly had had any understanding of what a powerful gift the Holy Ghost would be to lead, to guide, to comfort them, before they actually received it. I know I was ecstatic when I was baptized and confirmed with the Holy Ghost. I had paid attention in Sunday School and Primary, I had read the scriptures with my family, but there are no words to describe the peace, the incredible new understanding that descends upon you when you truly recognize the Holy Ghost for the first time. I strive to have it for a constant companion, as it has made all the difference in my life, in the choices I make, in the person I am.
This chapter also seems extremely significant to me through its portrayal of Peter. He is no longer the Peter of the four gospels. He now speaks with authority, with power: he testifies of the resurrected Lord, of the doctrine of salvation. Those that listen to him believe on his words and accept the essential saving process of repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. This chapter seems to me to mark a defining moment for the second half of the New Testament. The apostles of Christ, armed with His Spirit and His gospel, are ready to take His words to the world with confidence, with love; to suffer for their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to bring unto Him as many souls as they could. It was time for the work to commence.