Contrast #16: in quietude vs boasting … (09/28/18)
While there are admittedly exceptions to this generality found within the Scriptures – with Paul sometimes writing reservedly (a la his letter to Philemon) and Jesus every now and then booming his message with fervor (a la Matthew 23 or Luke 11:37-52), for the most part it holds true that Paul was fond of brash boasting while Jesus preferred the peace of calm teaching or spiritual solitude …
*Whereas Paul regularly enters local synagogues to cajole, debate, &/or argue (see Contrast #17 that follows), Jesus is far more often seen retreating to pray alone (see Matthew 14:23, Matthew 26:36-39, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Mark 14:32-25, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:18, Luke 22:41-42, & John 17 et al) …
*Whereas Paul frequently compliments himself and “boasts in [his own] sufferings” (Romans 5:3 – also Romans 15:17, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, 1 Corinthians 9:15, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, Galatians 1:24, Colossians 1:24, & 1 Thessalonians 2:2 et al), Jesus encouraged his followers to do exactly the opposite (see Matthew 5:10-11, Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 10:39, & Luke 6:22-23 – as well as his “Father … not my will but yours be done” prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:42, Matthew 26:39, & Mark 14:36) …
*Whereas Paul openly “glorified [his own] ministry” (Romans 11:13), Jesus refused to do so; stating quite plainly that he could “do nothing on my own” (John 5:30), that he “accepted the glory of no human beings” (John 5:41) and that “if I glorify myself, that glory means nothing” (John 8:54 – see also Matthew 4:10, Matthew 18:3-4, Matthew 23:12, Mark 10:18, John 6:15, & John 12:44 et al) …
*Whereas Paul encouraged others to loudly praise Christ & publicly worship Jesus (see Romans 10:9-13, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 2 Corinthians 1:19-20, Philippians 2:10-11, & Colossians 1:15-17 et al), Jesus encouraged his followers to pray only to God and to do so in secret silence (see Matthew 6:5-6, Matthew 6:33-34, & John 4:23 et al) …
*And finally, whereas Paul saw “signs & wonders” as proof of his divine apostleship (see Acts 14:1-3, Romans 15:18-19, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 2 Corinthians 12:12, & 1 Thessalonians 1:5), Jesus often refused to engage in such showboating (see Matthew 12:38-39, Matthew 16:2-4, Mark 6:4-6, & Mark 8:12 – also Matthew 24:24, John 4:446-48, & John 20:29‘s “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe”) and frequently refused to accept responsibility for any of his supposed “miracles” (see Matthew 8:1-3, Matthew 9:22, Matthew 9:23-24, Matthew 9:29-30, Matthew 15:28, Matthew 17:19-20, Mark 1:40-44, Mark 5:19, Mark 5:34, Mark 5:36-39, Mark 7:36, Mark 8:26, Mark 9:23, Mark 10:52, Luke 5:12-14, Luke 8:39, Luke 8:48, Luke 8:50-52, Luke 17:19, Luke 18:42, John 5:19, John 6:15, & John 11:4).
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