Living in the Spirit
November 4, 2022
Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. –2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Pilate’s response to Jesus “What is truth?” in his trial (John 18:38) is the question of the day in our society. Many people seem to believe if they say something it is true.
In ancient Greek culture, [the word for tuth] 225 (alḗtheia) was synonymous for “reality” as the opposite of illusion, i.e., fact*.
I found it interesting that Merriam-Webster does not use the word fact in its definition of truth and spends more time describing something in alignment.
1: something that is true: ultimate truth: reality —usually used with the
2: the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment) —used in the phrases in true and out of true**.
I understand alignment regarding building tools or hanging a picture. I live in an older house with a crawl space foundation. I bought two tall bookcases and set them up next to a wall in my living room. They made a perfect V shape because my floor was not flat. You cannot see it with your naked eye, but it was self-evident when the bookcases skewed in opposing directions. Small pieces of wood were slipped under the slopping sides until the tops of the bookcases were even.
I think Paul is trying to tell the people of Thessalonica that they need to make sure that they are following the foundation described by Paul and not be attracted by skewed ideas that stray from the foundation established by Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord, help us seek the facts and sources of information when we are making decisions about how to follow you more nearly. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/225.htm
**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/true
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.