Paul was only human. That is why we find him saying (1 Corinthians 7.6): ‘In my opinion that is what should be done, though I don’t know of anything the Lord has said about this matter.’ He repeats himself in verse 12. In verse 40 he says: ’I think I am obeying God’s spirit when I say she would be happier to stay single.’ (All three quotations come from the CEV.)
It is extremely illuminating to see this kind of language making an appearance in Scripture. It suggests that a respect for common sense has its place alongside ordered belief. It also suggests that we should be wary of expecting to find conclusive answers to all our questions in the New Testament documents.
With that proviso goes a practical respect for good order. The last verse in chapter 14 makes that clear. Paul has it in mind that when Christian believers meet together, they should have a care for the reputation of their movement. Everyday habits and standards should prevail. The assumption is that there are common standards of decency to be observed. Christians are not expected to invent a whole new code of behaviour. Just as the cardinal virtues have four agreed elements and to these are added the theological virtues – faith, hope and love – so there are agreed patterns of behaviour that all God’s creatures can emulate. Christians are not to invent everything afresh, not even the wheel.
This disclaimer raises interesting issues about inspiration. It seems to be the case that Paul did not think of himself so much as giving vent to messages from high as making sense of the events and significance of Jesus’ life. To put it another way he did not have a consciousness of speaking or writing in terms that would come to be regarded as divinely inspired. Of course, whether or not he was divinely inspired is a separate question from whether Paul knew it or not. But here is a human being dealing with something on his mind that he had to express – and that is not an uncommon experience for any kind of writer. It does away with the idea that Paul or the other contributors to the New Testament was superhuman. And not every time he opened his mouth did divinely inspired words come out.
Paul was human. He made mistakes. If he did not, he was unlike any other human being who ever lived. As with the Pope, the question becomes:’ When does he speak with authority?’
WEST BROM WELCOME
Neil Robbie, Vicar of Holy Trinity, West Bromwich introduces the church to a website visitor with a video. He was once an engineer on an oil-rig in the North Sea and has worked in Malaysia and Singapore.
RED SQUIRRELS
St Luke’s, Formby, Liverpool is the only parish church I know that can boast of having red squirrels in its nearby pine-woods. The Vicar, Matt Davis, has an able editor, Margaret Cooke, producing a lively magazine. The current issue includes a penetrating review of Rose Macaulay’s ‘The Towers of Trebizond’. The church has gained a bronze Eco award and is aiming at a silver.
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