Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Thursday, April 2, Galatians 1:22

"and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ"

Some of the commentaries I read on this verse show that this is part of Paul's argument stating that he was taught by Christ Himself. Apparently, some had claimed that he got it from the churches of Judea.

The book of Acts gives the interlude written here relative silence. If I read it right, probably the verses between Acts 9:19-20, the Damascus events could have been after this period of learning and meditation. Luke was with Paul on his later journeys, so I'm sure he got it from the Paul himself, and decided not to interrupt the flow of the message of the Gospel in his sequel.

But also, the fact that he "was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ" kind of infers a period of time, for he was certainly a terror in his "pre-Christian" days.

But all that is speculation. We'll know when we talk to him. Yes, I certainly believe that believers in their glorified bodies as they reign with Christ will be able to communicate with anyone from previous generations. God has been establishing His church for these last two millennia, and when all is said and done we will be one body of believers serving Him.

Revelation 21-22 reveals that Christ will rule first in Jerusalem after the Great Tribulation for 1000 years, fulfilling all of the national prophecies for the nation Israel, where all nations will come and be blessed, as God had expected Israel to do throughout the centuries. All will finally be fulfilled.

Then He will present the Kingdom to the Father, and a New Heaven and New Earth will be established. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth was passed away…" (Revelation 21:1a).

And, interestingly enough we see twelve gates named for the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, and twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles. For God, in His glorious plan established Israel as His elect to bring all nations unto Him, and the twelve apostles to establish His elect in the form of the Church, gathering them throughout the world. The line of the Jews brought us the Messiah, who established the Church, then reigns as King of the Jewish throne. The church is not Israel, and neither is the nation Israel the church. Both have been established from the beginning to bring Christ into the world, and all promises will be fulfilled.

And Paul was in the midst of this partial blindness of Israel, ordained by God in order to "graft in" the Gentiles. He was part of the remnant, called "the Israel of God" later in this letter. But the nation will again have their eyes open, and "all Israel will be saved", a national repentance after this "time of the Gentiles".

First, he was part of the blindness, and now his eyes were opened. I wonder if the Lord blinded him on the day of his conversion as a symbol?

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

"and was UNKNOWN by face
UNTO the churches of Judea
which were IN CHRIST"

(Words per line: 5-5-4)

Key words to help me anchor each line are "unknown/unto/in Christ" A simple word picture could show a "faceless" apostle Paul surrounded by churches with a cross "in" them, which I use as a symbol of Christ.

Linking verse numbers:

I use the word "Nun" for 22 (N=2, vowels fillers). So I have me, the "faceless Paul" surrounded by churches that each have a nun holding a cross at their front doors. I am odd looking of course, no face but I am also wearing a huge bow Tie (T=1) to represent chapter 1. That helps me link Galatians 1:22 to the verse itself.