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One of our earliest scripture references to bishops is that of Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. Paul tells them to ordain bishops and presbyters in the church, suggesting that Paul, called by Christ himself to be an apostle, has given them authority over or above other men, seeming to take on the role that the apostle’s had played before this time. In addition to this charge, Paul gives them instruction in the faith, which we may all benefit from reading. One of the most famous of those instructions is in Paul’s second letter to Timothy where he tells him:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”                         (2 Timothy 3:16)

All scripture is inspired. That is not a unique doctrine from Paul, for as Peter says in his second epistle:

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:16-21)

We must remember those similarities with the Epistle we read today. Paul bearing witness to seeing Christ after His resurrection, that Paul and others (including Peter) saw Jesus with their own eyes.

Have you ever thought how strange it is that Paul was accepted into this esoteric (and still small) sect that would become known as Christians? Led by the 12 (including Matthias). Paul comes to these men, who have been there since the beginning. What would convince you to accept an outsider (if you were them)? Not only an outsider, but a persecutor, an enemy, and to give him the same status, with them, as an apostle?

They were clearly convinced that Jesus Christ had called Paul, which appears to agree with Paul, as Christ told Peter (Matthew 16:17), that no man can call Jesus Lord, except by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:3). Thusly, these apostles, like all who wrote inspired scripture, were under a special influence of the Holy Ghost. It is under that influence that these letters were written, as Peter says, “we ave not followed cunningly devised fables” for these men “were eyewitnesses to [God’s] glory” (2 Peter 1:16).

That is why scripture is our rule of faith, in the Anglican tradition. As the 6th Article of Religion, of the 39 Articles, that define our Anglican faith states:

“Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” (pp. 603, 1928 BCP)

Thus, we do, and must believe that:

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures [such as those of     Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53];

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures [such as Psalm 16, 68, and 110; Hosea 6:2, and Jonah 1:17)”

That He appeared unto many, and if we believe on Him and walk in his ways, then we too will rise again from death unto everlasting life.

And what are His ways? In our gospel today we heard the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (or tax collector). Jesus says both men went to the temple to pray.

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:11-13)

Jesus then says:

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

The thing is, this is even starker than it first appears. For all intents and purposes, the Publican, this tax collector, was seen as a treasonous traitor to his people. That is because tax collectors worked for their invaders, abandoning their people, and taking the money from them to give to their conquerors.

In contrast, the Pharisees were the most noble of citizens. The best of their people. The most holy among them, keeping every whit of the laws and customs, as well as any man. 

Paul too was a Pharisee. It was as a Pharisee, that Paul held the people’s coats when they stoned St. Stephen to death. It was as a Pharisee that he arrested many and was on his way to arrest and bring back for punishment those Christians who had fled Jerusalem for Damascus (among other places), when Christ appeared to him.

Which is why he says in our Epistle:

“And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:8-10)

Here we see the converted Paul no longer exalted as the highest of the people, a Pharisee. But having given up all his worldly power, and honor, and influence, humbling himself to the church in Corinth whom he is writing to. Saying “I am the least of the apostles” and “not meet to be called an apostle”, because of what he had done.

Does this not sound familiar “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

Paul, humble after receiving God’s grace, calls many to the faith which “first of all that which I also received” (1 Corinthians 15:3). That Jesus Christ died for us and rose again from the dead, as was prophesied in the scriptures of the Old Testament. That this is attested to by the eyewitnesses to His resurrection, some of whom are the writers of the New Testament. Who have taught Christ sayings, that if believe on Him, we too can have salvation and everlasting life.

Let this go with you this week as a profitable doctrine, a reproof and correction against doubt and worldliness, and as an instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), that we ought to humble ourselves before our Lord and our Saviour. Asking always for Him to be merciful unto us, who are sinners. Knowing always that but for the grace of God, which was bestowed upon us freely, we could never have been saved. And that, being saved, we are to dedicate our souls and bodies unto Him all the days of our life.