Examples Worthy of Note
In our competitive world, position, degrees, and titles are important. How many people do you know who feel that if they just had a higher position in their company, they would feel significant? How many want a degree they can wear as a mark of distinction? I know of a Ph. D who insisted that everyone in his life, in and outside of his professional life, call him Doctor. How many crave a title because they want recognition?
In this regard, the authors of the New Testament are worthy of note. They had positions, degrees, and titles, but they did not flaunt them. They either did not use them at all or only when absolutely necessary.
Matthew was an apostle, who never bothers to mention his name, much less his position, when he penned the first book of the New Testament. Mark was Peter’s assistant when he wrote his book, but like Matthew, his name does not appear in his work. Luke was a medical doctor and traveling companion of Paul, but in his two volume set (Luke and Acts), his name does not appear. The Gospels are known as the “Gospel according to Mathew,” etc. because others later attached their names.
The apostle John wrote four books. In two, his name does not appear at all and in the other two he identifies himself, not as an apostle, but as an elder (2 Jn. and 3 Jn.). Even when he needed to speak officially, he used a lesser title.
In his first epistle, Peter does say he is an apostle (1 Pet. 1:1), but later call himself an elder (1 Pet. 5:1), reminding elders that they are not to lord it over the flock (1 Pet. 5:3). He used his authority because it was necessary, but he did not throw their weight around to feel important or gain the awe of others. In his second epistle, he again calls himself an apostle, but before that, he says he is a “bond slave of Jesus Christ.” This apostle took on the position of a slave. He is the example (1 Pet. 5:3).
Like Peter, Paul mentions his apostleship, when it was necessary, but he identifies himself as a slave of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:1) and as a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Phlm. 1).
The two authors of the New Testament who were half brothers of Jesus Christ, James and Jude, never mention that fact. Rather both call themselves slaves of Jesus Christ (James 1:1; Jude 1)!
Then, there is Hebrews. The author of Hebrews not only does not give his name, he so hide himself, no one today knows for sure who wrote it. Origen said, “Who it was that really wrote the epistle, God only knows.”
You do not need to have position or a title to be significant. If you have them, use them when necessary and even then with humility. We are servants, not masters. In the final analysis, there is only one Master. We would do well to remember that.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 6/26/2005
In this regard, the authors of the New Testament are worthy of note. They had positions, degrees, and titles, but they did not flaunt them. They either did not use them at all or only when absolutely necessary.
Matthew was an apostle, who never bothers to mention his name, much less his position, when he penned the first book of the New Testament. Mark was Peter’s assistant when he wrote his book, but like Matthew, his name does not appear in his work. Luke was a medical doctor and traveling companion of Paul, but in his two volume set (Luke and Acts), his name does not appear. The Gospels are known as the “Gospel according to Mathew,” etc. because others later attached their names.
The apostle John wrote four books. In two, his name does not appear at all and in the other two he identifies himself, not as an apostle, but as an elder (2 Jn. and 3 Jn.). Even when he needed to speak officially, he used a lesser title.
In his first epistle, Peter does say he is an apostle (1 Pet. 1:1), but later call himself an elder (1 Pet. 5:1), reminding elders that they are not to lord it over the flock (1 Pet. 5:3). He used his authority because it was necessary, but he did not throw their weight around to feel important or gain the awe of others. In his second epistle, he again calls himself an apostle, but before that, he says he is a “bond slave of Jesus Christ.” This apostle took on the position of a slave. He is the example (1 Pet. 5:3).
Like Peter, Paul mentions his apostleship, when it was necessary, but he identifies himself as a slave of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:1) and as a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Phlm. 1).
The two authors of the New Testament who were half brothers of Jesus Christ, James and Jude, never mention that fact. Rather both call themselves slaves of Jesus Christ (James 1:1; Jude 1)!
Then, there is Hebrews. The author of Hebrews not only does not give his name, he so hide himself, no one today knows for sure who wrote it. Origen said, “Who it was that really wrote the epistle, God only knows.”
You do not need to have position or a title to be significant. If you have them, use them when necessary and even then with humility. We are servants, not masters. In the final analysis, there is only one Master. We would do well to remember that.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 6/26/2005
