p. 16 | THEY WERE MEN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 15, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 46.

THEY WERE MEN.

A HIGHLY sensational daily of New York has an article headed in these words: "A Picture of St. Paul Found in the Catacombs Proves That the Apostle Really Visited Rome." Well, who disputes it? We know he visited Rome. Why?—Because the sacred Word reveals it.

But, as regards the picture, it is found on a medal or coin three and three-fourths inches in diameter, bearing the outline of "fine features and the skull of a thinker," and the inscription, "Paulus Apostolus Vasekctionis." On the reverse side is an inscription translated thus: "Blessed be the Most High God is this one from out of the sources of Israel, being a child of Benjamin, and a master mind."

If such a thing were found, it may be set down to three or four centuries this side of Paul.

But even tho this were a real likeness of Paul, executed by contemporary artists, of what value is it? O, says this writer, they are "of inestimable worth to Christendom, which would like to know what manner of men these were who took up the burden of the Gospel as it issued from the mouth of Jesus, or developed it into the world-conquering religion of our day"!

They are of no worth to Christendom whatever. Who was Peter? Who was Paul? Hear Peter: "Stand up; I myself also am a man." Acts 10:26.

Hear Paul: "We also are men of like passions with you." Acts 14:15. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos [or Peter], but ministers by whom ye believed." "That ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written." 1 Cor. 3:5; 4:6. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Cor. 4:7. We praise God for all He has given us through these men and others; we honor them for His sake; but to Him and His Word, not to them, belongs the glory.