The Churches Need for Biblical Literacy (Acts 18: 18-28)

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Welcome

Welcome to today's episode where we look at the importance of biblical literacy within our churches. Today, we will explore Acts 18:18-28 and discuss how different people in various contexts require diverse forms of spiritual instruction. We'll look at the travels of Paul and the story of Apollos in Ephesus to understand how ongoing guidance and correction are vital for spiritual growth. Whether you're in the pews, on the streets, or standing in the pulpit, there's always room for deeper understanding and closer walk with the Lord.

Episode Notes: The Church's Need for Biblical Literacy

Scripture Reference: Acts 18:18-28

Key Points:

1. Introduction to Biblical Literacy:
   • Examples of common misconceptions about biblical knowledge.
   • Highlighting the need for basic biblical instruction within the church.
2. Paul's Travels and Instruction:
   • Paul's departure from Corinth and his travels to Ephesus, Jerusalem, and Antioch.
   • Emphasis on Paul's commitment to teaching and strengthening the disciples in various regions.
3. The Story of Apollos:
   • Introduction of Apollos, a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures but limited understanding of the full gospel.
   • Priscilla and Aquila's role in guiding Apollos more accurately in the way of the Lord.
4. Importance of Ongoing Instruction:
   • Spiritual growth as an ongoing process requiring continuous learning and correction.
   • Paul's method of reasoning in synagogues and the importance of teaching even those familiar with the Scriptures.
5. Lessons from Church History:
   • Examples of religious figures who underwent significant spiritual transformations, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley.
   • The importance of understanding the true gospel beyond mere religious practices.
6. Application for Today:
   • Encouragement for believers to seek deeper understanding and maturity in their faith.
   • The role of love and humility in true spiritual maturity.
   • The need for discernment and personal engagement with Scripture, following the example of the Bereans.
7. Conclusion:
   • A call to embrace ongoing spiritual instruction and growth, just as Apollos did.
   • The importance of balancing knowledge with grace and living out the truths of Scripture in daily life.

Join me again next time as we continue to unpack these themes and reflect on how we can all grow in our biblical literacy and spiritua

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Transcript

The Churches Need For Biblical Literacy.  (Acts 18: 18-28)

Transcript.

Sometimes for a bit of fun I ask people if they can name any of the 10 commandments? Someone once answered, only one "God helps those who help themselves." 

When asked to name one of the apostles, another person couldn't name one but could easily name The Beatles: George, Paul, John, and Ringo. 

When asked how Eve was created, the answer  one child gave was, "From an apple."

Mt favourite answer ever those was one child who when I asked what David used to kill Goliath, he answered he killed him with the axe of the apostles. 

Now, we might expect of lower level of biblical knowledge among those who come from a secular background. However, I would even venture to say that people sitting in the pews of many of our churches on a Sunday morning might need some basic biblical instruction. And, if we are completely honest, maybe even some people standing in the pulpit might also need some instruction in biblical and spiritual things.

My thesis today is very simple: just about everybody could do with more spiritual instruction. But, exactly who and what kind of instruction do they need? For the answer to that I’d like to invite your attention to todays passage in the book of Acts.

Welcome…. 

The last time we were with Paul, he was in the city of Corinth. Now, he is leaving Corinth and going elsewhere. So, let’s pick up in Acts 18:18, and read through to the end of the chapter.

"18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and travelled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. 

(Acts 18:18-28)

This can be divided into two parts: first, the travels of Paul, and second, the record of a man named Apollos visiting Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila take him aside and instruct him, how shall I say it, more accurately,

 in the way of the Lord. So, there are two parts. However, if we look at it in more detail, Paul visits several different places, instructing different groups of people in each place. This indicates that various forms of spiritual instruction are needed in different contexts.

Let's begin with a rather unusual event in the life of Paul before we talk about him instructing others. The passage tells us in verse 18 that he had taken a vow and had his hair cut off at Cenchrea. What is that about? 

Many commentators I read concluded that Paul had taken a Nazirite vow, which is mentioned in the Old Testament. During this vow, one would abstain from strong drink, avoid cutting their hair, and, at the end of the period, offer a sacrifice in the temple at Jerusalem.

However, I am not persuaded that this was the case for Paul. For one thing, in order to take a Nazirite vow, one had to be in Jerusalem or at least in Palestine, and Paul was not in either place when this happened. Moreover, the text is clear that he had his hair cut, which is the opposite of a Nazirite vow where one lets their hair grow. 

Therefore, it seems obvious, to me anyway that this was not a Nazirite vow.

So, what was it? Many suggest it was a personal vow, perhaps he just took a simple persona vow as an act of thanksgiving for all that God had done. I suspect it was a vow of gratitude, akin to someone giving a special offering to show their thankfulness to God for His blessings.

So, Paul's travels and this passage shows that different people in different places needed different forms of instruction. In Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside to explain the way of God more accurately. 

This indicates to me that spiritual growth and understanding are ongoing processes that sometimes requires guidance and correction.

So, whether as a Christian we are in the pews, on the streets, or even in the pulpit, we all need ongoing spiritual instruction. We must be open to learning and growing in our faith, just as Apollos was willing to be instructed more accurately by Priscilla and Aquila. Let us all strive to deepen our understanding and walk more closely with the Lord.

When Paul arrived in Ephesus, as we are told in verse 19, he entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. This was Paul's customary approach, as seen throughout the Book of Acts. He would go to a new city and begin his ministry by speaking to the Jews first, using the synagogue as his starting point. 

In Acts 17, we learnt that it was his custom to use the Old Testament scriptures to demonstrate that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. Paul would then argue that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and therefore is the Christ, the Messiah.

Paul’s approach in Ephesus was no different. He went to the synagogue and taught the Jews about Jesus being the Messiah. This also highlights the need for instruction, even among those who think they are religious and knowledgeable about the Scriptures. 

The Jews in the synagogue were indeed familiar with the Old Testament but they did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. This underscores the importance of even teaching religious people who might know the traditions of the church or even aspects of the bible but do not understand or believe in the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some of the most remarkable conversions in church history have been between deeply religious people, one of whom did not know the Lord. Take, for example, the Apostle Paul himself. Before his conversion, Paul was a Pharisee, highly religious and zealous for the law. Similarly, Martin Luther was a monk in the Catholic Church before he came to understand the doctrine of justification by faith. 

John Wesley, another example, was a even missionary before he truly understood the gospel after meeting some other Christians on a boat journey between the USA and England, which called him to attend a meeting in Aldersgate, London.

John Wesley's story is particularly illustrative. He was the son of a minister and a godly mother. He attended Oxford, where he was part of the "Holy Club," a group dedicated to spiritual growth. He became a professor of Greek and logic and even served as a missionary to the Native Americans in Georgia. Despite all this, Wesley later admitted, "I went to America to convert Native Americans, but later wondered, who shall convert me?" 

John Wesley was deeply religious but did not know the assurance of salvation until he heard Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans being discussed. In his journal on May 24, 1738, Wesley wrote that while listening to the reading, he felt his heart "strangely warmed" and trusted Christ alone for salvation.

Returning to our text, Paul preached to the Jews in the synagogue. Verse 20 tells us that the Jews there asked him to stay longer, but he declined, saying he must go to the feast in Jerusalem, referring to the Feast of Pentecost. However, he promised to return if God willed it and then sailed from Ephesus to Syria and Antioch. Later, he visited and encouraged the disciples in the region of Galatia, as noted in verse 23.

Paul's mission in these regions is described as being, “to instruct and strengthen” the disciples there. The term "disciple" means learner, indicating that these believers had already been taught some spiritual truths. However, Paul felt compelled to go back and confirm them in their faith, ensuring they became well-established in what they believed.

Believers, even those well-grounded in their faith, need continued instruction in the things of the Lord. In Galatia, for instance, Paul faced the problem of Judaizers who taught that Christians must observe the Mosaic Law to be justified. Paul wrote the Epistle to the Galatians to counter this false teaching, emphasizing justification by faith apart from the law.

Although the issue of justification by faith had been settled by the Council of Jerusalem we read about in Acts 15, where the apostles agreed that Gentile believers did not need to keep the Mosaic Law, the influence of the law was still strong. 

Paul’s future letters, including Galatians and later Colossians, will address these issues, reinforcing the doctrine we call, “justification by faith”, and instructing believers on living out their faith without the burden of the law.

In Colossians 1:28, Paul writes, "We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." 

This verse captures the heart of Paul's main mission: To instruct and mature believers in their faith. I believe this same need for instruction and growth applies to believers today. We must continually seek to learn and grow in our understanding of the good news and our relationship with Christ.

Paul's ministry was always centered around bringing people to spiritual maturity. But when he speaks of perfection, he doesn't mean any sort of flawless perfection, but rather maturity and completeness in Christ. 

This is the essence of Paul's message and the purpose of most of his letters. In the book of Colossians, Paul emphasizes that Christ should have pre-eminence in everything. So, spiritual maturity is about giving Christ the pre-eminence in every aspect of our lives.

In Colossians he is addressing Christians, and he warns them not to let anyone judge them by insisting they keep the Jewish law in order to show spiritually maturity. This is because the false teachers in Colossae were promoting strict regulations, suggesting that true spirituality required adhering to these external rules.

Paul counters this in verses 2: 20-22, stating,

"20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.?"

(Colossians 2: 20-22)

These regulations, Paul argues, are human commandments, not divine, and do not contribute to true spiritual maturity.

Paul always emphasizes that spiritual maturity is not about external regulations and notes that such practices may have an appearance of wisdom, but they lack any underlying value. Legalism, reduces spirituality to a set of rules and regulations.

In the modern context, we often see similar tendencies. For example, years ago, some preachers promoted strict behavioural codes, such as prohibiting makeup or going to movies, regardless of what the film was as evidence of spiritual maturity. However, these external measures do not lead to true spiritual growth.

True spiritual maturity, according to Paul, is being Christlike. This means developing the character and virtues of Christ. In Romans 8:29, Paul states that believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Spiritual maturity is about growing to be more like Jesus in every way.

Being Christlike involves embodying both grace and truth. John 1:14 describes Jesus as "full of grace and truth." This means that true spiritual maturity includes both love and righteousness. The Old Testament teaches that God is holy and just, while the New Testament reveals that God is also loving and merciful. Jesus, as God incarnate, perfectly balances these attributes.

Thus, spiritual maturity involves:

·        Love and Joy: Reflecting the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23).

·        Holiness and Righteousness: Insisting on doing what is right and just.

·        Humility and Contentment: Being humble and content in all circumstances.

·        Commitment to God's Will: Being dedicated to doing God's will, regardless of the cost.

Becoming Christlike. It is not about adhering to external regulations but about embodying the character of Christ. This means balancing love with righteousness, grace with truth, and living a life fully committed to God’s will.

The key to spiritual maturity is our relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not about checking boxes or adhering to a list of rules, but rather about having the heart set on being like Christ, no matter what.

We have freedom in Christ to make choices based on personal conviction, but we should never think that certain actions, such as making vows or observing certain rituals, make us more spiritual. These activities are not the means to spiritual maturity; they should instead be the results of the relationship with Christ.

We must remember the freedom we have in Christ to make choices according to our conscience, without thinking that those choices make us more spiritual.

What makes Christianity different is that very fact that we are not bound by external rules. 

Spiritual maturity is also not about imposing a set of standards on others; it's about allowing Christ to transform us inwardly and expecting him to do the same for others. We should focus on being loving, gracious, and righteous believers who are following the way of Christ.

In the closing verses of today’s passage we are introduced to a man named Apollos, who was eloquent, described as, “mighty in the Scriptures, and fervent in spirit”. He had a deep knowledge of the Word of God and was passionate about preaching. However, there was one area where he lacked understanding—he only knew the baptism of John. This illustrates the importance of ongoing instruction and growth in the faith.

Though Apollos was an excellent preacher, he did not have the full picture of the Gospel. His ministry was incomplete. Priscilla and Aquila, a married couple who were co-workers with Paul, heard him speak and saw this gap in his knowledge. Instead of publicly rebuking him, they took him aside privately and explained the way of God more accurately. This is a great model of how we should help each other grow in understanding—privately, with grace, and without judgment.

This story highlights for me a crucial point: No matter how knowledgeable or eloquent a preacher may be, everyone, including pastors, need ongoing instruction in the things of the Lord. The same is true today. We may have a deep understanding of the Bible, but there is always room to grow and learn more. 

I believe that many pastors and ministers today, need to engage more deeply with Scripture and its practical implications for spiritual growth. 

The example of the Bereans in Acts 17 is critical here. The Bereans were commended because they didn’t just take the apostle Paul’s words at face value. They "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." This is the kind of discernment we need today. Spiritual maturity requires us to listen carefully and ask, "Where does it say that in the bible?" We can’t just take the word of anyone—even if they are a preacher or teacher. We must know Scripture ourselves and be able to discern truth from error.

Hebrews 5 also addresses this by contrasting babies who need milk with those who have matured enough to eat solid food. 

Spiritual maturity isn’t just about knowing the facts—it’s about being able to apply and live out the truth of God's Word. Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” It's about becoming skilled in using the Word of God to discern what's right and to live in alignment with it.

We need to be careful, though. Knowledge can puff us up, as Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 8:1: "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." There’s a danger in just accumulating facts without growing in grace and love. True spiritual maturity is not demonstrated by how much we know, but by how we live out the truths of Scripture in love, kindness, and humility.

This knowledge must lead to spiritual growth. Without knowledge, we cannot grow. Peter emphasizes this in 2 Peter 1:5, where he writes, "Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge." There is no substitute for gaining knowledge of the Word of God. It’s essential for growth. But knowledge alone isn’t enough—it must be put into practice.

Simply reading the Bible and gaining information isn’t enough. James 1:22 reminds us, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." It’s about more than just feeling good because you’ve read the Bible; it’s about living it out. The Bible must be implemented in your life, not just stored in your head.

Many people spend far more time on entertainment, yet they struggle to commit time to the Word. While watching television or engaging in other activities isn’t wrong in itself, we must prioritize time spent in the Word if we want to develop spiritual maturity.

But ultimately, spiritual growth and maturity are not about striving in our own strength. We need God's grace. We cannot grow in Christlikeness by our own efforts. We need to humbly ask God for grace to live out the truths we learn in His Word. It's only through His grace and power that we can implement His Word in our lives and see the fruit of the Spirit grow within us.

Let me say in closing. We all need to grow spiritually—there are no exceptions. We must all continually grow in our understanding and application of God's Word. This process involves gaining knowledge, yes, but also gaining insight and wisdom into how to live out that knowledge. 

The benefit of this is that as we grow, we will develop discernment, recognizing the importance of Scripture in our daily lives and making sure we live in a way that reflects Christlikeness. 

Ultimately, it’s about becoming more like Christ in every area of our lives. And that, my friends, is what true spiritual maturity looks like.