Notes for12 December 2017

Paul could hardly be blamed for the fact that he was afraid of death. Still, there were situations, when he preferred to avoid death. As seen, in his life he was guided not only by fearlessness. Of course in Paul's life, as in every Christian, the main role was played by the plan, intention of God. And it is not Paul, but God Who decided how the apostle has to act in any situation.

But all the same: is there any logic in all that happens? There is probably. In fact: for the witness, testimony can be not only the personal life, but also the personal death. Everything depends on how to live and how to die. But indeed, testimony has meaning only for people, who can and want at least to hear something. It is impossible to witness to a fanatic, who is completely immersed in his fanaticism, or, for example, to a raging crowd. In such situations even the Savior Himself kept silent.

Paul, as seen, considers testimony in such cases as an absolutely useless thing. If people made the vow not to eat or drink as long as their enemy is still alive, it means that they hate their enemy to madness, to frenzy, so it can’t be about any testimony here. With the same success one could try to witness to a starving crocodile. And since suicide witness of nothing else than the foolishness of the witness, Paul, as seen, does not find necessary to sacrifice himself for those who only want his death and nothing more. And he saves himself from the hands of his potential murders. He saves himself exactly in order to witness the Kingdom to those who were willing and able to hear.