Compare Acts 17:18-21 with 2 Timothy 1:15-18.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Acts 17:18-21

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. 2 Timothy 1:15-18

For Paul, he had experienced the fullness of what Christ had spoken or revealed as the path his life would follow, noting the continuous phrase “delivering you from the people and the Gentiles” (Acts 26:16-18). This is the life summarised in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 6:4-10; 11:21-28 and 12:10-11 concluding in Galatians 6:17 emphasising that his scars and sufferings from persecution were evidence of his true service and belonging to Christ.

J Vernon McGee has some good comments here:

“Galatians 6:16-17 Notice the word marks. Paul is saying, “I bear in my body the ‘marks'”—the Greek word is stigmata—meaning ‘scar marks.’ If you want to see the handwriting of Jesus, look upon Paul’s body… In Paul’s day stigmata was used in three ways. When a runaway slave was found and brought back to his master, he was branded on the forehead. Also soldiers who belonged to famous companies had the names of their commanders tattooed on their foreheads. Then, too, devotees of a pagan goddess (and there was much of this in Asia Minor and throughout the Roman Empire in Paul’s day) had her name branded on their foreheads. Paul says, “I have on my body the stigmata of the Lord Jesus.” He is saying this in effect, “I have written to you out of deep emotion and with great conviction. If you want to know if I truly believe what I have written and if these things are real in my own life, read my body—look at my scars.”

What does it mean to an ordinary Christian like me? Well, it means that the Christian life isn’t a bed of roses! It can mean that we too are called upon to suffer for His namesake, whatever form that suffering may take. There are many Christians around the world suffering physically for their faith as you know. Some are being killed or maimed by ISIS and other demonically inspired groups as I write without compromising their faith.

Now obviously many of us don’t live in countries where such atrocious suffering are taking place, but this verse is still a good reminder that there is a cost to following the Lord Jesus. Persecution could come in the form of mockery or ridicule as we speak the Gospel or stand up for the things that God declares. It is a good reminder that we walk a narrow path, pleasing God, not man, which is normally in the opposite direction to which the majority tread.”

But alas most followers saw things differently, not being able to reconcile Christian life with suffering. Note particularly 2 Timothy 1:15 and 2 Timothy 2:17-18, the aberrations of easy life and false doctrine.

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 2 Timothy 1:15

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:17-18

What is your testimony or stigmata of service to the cause of Christ? Selah


Pastor Afolabi Oladele