paper 139 - the twelve apostlesurantiabooksources.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/139.pdf · 2016....

WORK-IN-PROGRESS (SEPTEMBER 26, 2014) PARALLEL CHART FOR

139:1, 139:8, 139:11 (“Andrew, the First Chosen,” “Thomas Didymus”

and “Simon the Zealot”)

Paper 139 — The Twelve Apostles

© 2014 Matthew Block

Sources for 139:1, 139:8, 139:11

(1) “Andrew,” by David Smith, in Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, edited by JamesHastings, D.D. (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1909)

Note: This source is coded Hastings’ DB.

(2) Bernard C. Clausen, D.D., Pen-Portraits of the Twelve (New York: Fleming H. RevellCompany, 1924)

(3) Charles Reynolds Brown, These Twelve: A Study in Temperament (New York: TheCentury Co., 1926)

(4) Robert E. Speer, Studies of the Man Christ Jesus (New York: Fleming H. RevellCompany, 1896)

(5) Edward Augustus George, The Twelve: Apostolic Types of Christian Men (New York:Fleming H. Revell Company, 1916)

(6) “Andrew, St.,” in Dr. William Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 1, A toGennesaret, Land of, Revised and Edited by Professor H. B. Hackett, D.D. et al. (Boston:Houghlin, Mifflin and Co., 1870)

(7) “Thomas,” in Dr. William Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 4, Regem-Melech toZuzims, Revised and Edited by Professor H. B. Hackett, D.D. et al. (Boston: Houghlin,Mifflin and Co., 1870)

(8) “Thomas,” by David Smith, in Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, edited by JamesHastings, D.D. et al. (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1909)

Note: This source is coded Hastings’ DB.

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(9) “Simon,” in Dr. William Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 4, Regem-Melech toZuzims, Revised and Edited by Professor H. B. Hackett, D.D. et al. (Boston: Houghlin,Mifflin and Co., 1870)

Key

(a) Green indicates where a source author first appears, or where he/she reappears.

(b) Yellow highlights most parallelisms.

(c) Tan highlights parallelisms not occurring on the same row, or parallelisms separated byyellowed parallelisms.

(d) An underlined word or words indicates where the source and the UB writer pointedlydiffer from each other.

(e) Blue indicates original (or “revealed”) information, or UB-specific terminology and

concepts. (What to highlight in this regard is debatable; the highlights are tentative.)

Matthew Block26 September 2014

2

SOURCE OR PARALLEL URANTIA PAPER 139

Work-in-progress Version 8 Oct. 2014

© 2014 Matthew BlockPAPER 139 — THE

TWELVE APOSTLES

1. ANDREW, THE FIRST

CHOSEN

139:1.1 Andrew, chairman of theapostolic corps of the kingdom, was bornin Capernaum. He was the oldest child ina family of five—himself, his brotherSimon, and three sisters. His father, nowdead, had been a partner of Zebedee inthe fish-drying business at Bethsaida, thefishing harbor of Capernaum.

ANDREW. (Hastings’ DB 31)

When he became an apostle, Andrew wasunmarried

He belonged to Bethsaida of Galilee (v.44), the harbour-town of Capernaum (seeBETHSAIDA), and was a fisherman on thelake in company with Simon (Mt 4:18 =Mk 1:16), whose home he also shared(Mk 1:29) (H 31).

but made his home with his marriedbrother, Simon Peter. Both werefishermen

and partners of James and John the sonsof Zebedee.

139:1.2 In A.D. 26, the year he waschosen as an apostle, Andrew was 33, afull year older than Jesus and the oldestof the apostles. He sprang from anexcellent line of ancestors and was theablest man of the twelve. Excepting1

oratory, he was the peer of his associatesin almost every imaginable ability.

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Jesus never gave Andrew a nickname, afraternal designation. But even as theapostles soon began to call Jesus Master,so they also designated Andrew by a termthe equivalent of Chief.

139:1.3 Andrew was a good organizerbut a better administrator.

V: THE MAN WHO BROUGHT HISBROTHER—ANDREW (Clausen 55)

Andrew was specifically recalled as beingamong the first four.... All the Gospelsaccord his entree into the preciousprecincts of the inner circle (C 58). He was one of the inner circle of four

apostles,

but his appointment by Jesus as the headof the apostolic group made it necessaryfor him to remain on duty with hisbrethren while the other three enjoyedvery close communion with the Master.2

To the very end Andrew remained deanof the apostolic corps.

139:1.4 Although Andrew was never aneffective preacher,

He had one specialty. He was anexpert in the gentle art of bringing otherpeople to Jesus. He was the originalpersonal worker (C 58).

he was an efficient personal worker,


He brought his brother Simon to thenewly found Messiah (v. 41), thusearning the distinction of being the firstmissionary of the Kingdom of heaven ...(H 31).

being the pioneer missionary of thekingdom in that, as the first chosenapostle, he immediately brought to Jesushis brother, Simon,

who subsequently became one of thegreatest preachers of the kingdom.

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Andrew was the chief supporter of Jesus’policy of utilizing the program of person-al work as a means of training the twelveas messengers of the kingdom.

139:1.5 Whether Jesus privately taughtthe apostles or preached to the multitude,Andrew was usually conversant withwhat was going on; he was an under-standing executive and an efficientadministrator. He rendered a promptdecision on every matter brought to hisnotice unless he deemed the problem onebeyond the domain of his authority, inwhich event he would take it straight toJesus.

139:1.6 Andrew and Peter were veryunlike in character and temperament, butit must be recorded everlastingly to theircredit that they got along togethersplendidly. Andrew was never jealous ofPeter’s oratorical ability. Not often willan older man of Andrew’s type beobserved exerting such a profoundinfluence over a younger and talentedbrother. Andrew and Peter never seemedto be in the least jealous of each other’sabilities or achievements.

IV: ANDREW: THE MAN OFDECISION (Brown 69)

When Peter preached his famoussermon on the Day of Pentecost,

Late on the evening of the day ofPentecost, when, largely through theenergetic and inspiring preaching ofPeter,

three thousand were added to the churchand enrolled among those “who werebeing saved” by the power of Christ.

two thousand souls were added to thekingdom,

I like to think that Andrew was presentthat day, sitting in the congregation andlistening to his brother’s sermon. He mayhave said to himself as Peter went on,

Andrew said to his brother:

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“I could not do it, but I brought him toChrist” (B 86).

“I could not do that,

but I am glad I have a brother whocould.”

To which Peter replied: “And but foryour bringing me to the Master and byyour steadfastness keeping me with him,I should not have been here to do this.”

Andrew and Peter were the exceptions tothe rule, proving that even brothers canlive together peaceably and work togethereffectively.

139:1.7 After Pentecost Peter wasfamous, but it never irritated the olderAndrew to spend the rest of his life beingintroduced as

“You know Andrew, Simon Peter’sbrother,” men would say. He isintroduced to us in just those words thefirst time he is mentioned in the Gospelrecord. “One of the two, who followedhim was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother”(B 69).

“Simon Peter’s brother.”

139:1.8 Of all the apostles, Andrewwas the best judge of men.

[See 157:7.] He knew that trouble was brewing in theheart of Judas Iscariot even when none ofthe others suspected that anything waswrong with their treasurer; but he toldnone of them his fears.

[See 148:1.1, 148:3.3.] Andrew’s great service to the kingdomwas in advising Peter, James, and Johnconcerning the choice of the firstmissionaries who were sent out toproclaim the gospel, and also in counsel-ing these early leaders about theorganization of the administrative affairsof the kingdom.

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In the second place Andrewdiscovered the hidden resources of a boy.[Etc.] (B 74)

Andrew had a great gift for discoveringthe hidden resources and latent talents ofyoung people.

[See 121:0.1.] 139:1.9 Very soon after Jesus’ascension on high, Andrew began thewriting of a personal record of many ofthe sayings and doings of his departedMaster. After Andrew’s death othercopies of this private record were madeand circulated freely among the earlyteachers of the Christian church. Theseinformal notes of Andrew’s weresubsequently edited, amended, altered,and added to until they made up a fairlyconsecutive narrative of the Master’s lifeon earth. The last of these few altered andamended copies was destroyed by fire atAlexandria about one hundred years afterthe original was written by the firstchosen of the twelve apostles.

[IV: ANDREW: THE MAN OF DECISION (B69)]

139:1.10 Andrew was a man of clearinsight, logical thought, and firmdecision,

whose great strength of characterconsisted in his superb stability. Histemperamental handicap was his lack ofenthusiasm; he many times failed toencourage his associates by judiciouscommendation. And this reticence topraise the worthy accomplishments of hisfriends grew out of his abhorrence offlattery and insincerity. Andrew was oneof those all-round, even-tempered, self-made, and successful men of modestaffairs.

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III: SOME ACTIVE AND PASSIVETRAITS OF HIS CHARACTER (Speer75)

139:1.11 Every one of the apostlesloved Jesus, but it remains true that eachof the twelve was drawn toward himbecause of some certain trait ofpersonality which made a special appealto the individual apostle.

I. Sincerity. (Speer 75)

Andrew admired Jesus because of hisconsistent sincerity,

“When I trace the unaffected majestywhich runs through the life of Jesus,”declared Channing, “ ... I have a feelingof the reality of His character which Icannot express...” (S 76).

his unaffected dignity.

IV: SYMPATHETIC ANDREW (George59)

The first thing that one of the firsttwo apostles who met Christ did was tofind his own brother and bring him toJesus. From the very outset Christianityhas meant something more thanindividual salvation. It is too large forone, it must be shared (G 64-65). When men once knew Jesus, they were

possessed with the urge to share him withtheir friends;

they really wanted all the world to knowhim.

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139:1.12 When the later persecutionsfinally scattered the apostles fromJerusalem,

ANDREW, St. (Smith’s DB 94)

The traditions about him are various.Eusebius (iii. 1) makes him preach inScythia; Jerome (Ep. 148 ad Marc.) andTheodoret (ad Psalm. cxvi), in Achaia(Greece); Nicephorus (ii. 39), in AsiaMinor and Thrace (S 94).

Andrew journeyed through Armenia,Asia Minor, and Macedonia

and, after bringing many thousands intothe kingdom,


Tradition adds that he was crucified atPatræ in Achaia,

was finally apprehended and crucified inPatrae in Achaia.

and hung alive on the cross for two days, It was two full days before this robustman expired on the cross,

exhorting the spectators all the while (H31).

and throughout these tragic hours hecontinued effectively to proclaim the gladtidings of the salvation of the kingdom ofheaven.

8. THOMAS DIDYMUS

139:8.1 Thomas was the eighth apostle,and he was chosen by Philip.

XII: THE MAN WHO HAD TO BESHOWN—THOMAS (Clausen 140)

[contd] “Doubting Thomas” we callhim. There is a sneer of scorn in ourvoices as we speak the words (C 140).

In later times he has become known as“doubting Thomas,”

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but his fellow apostles hardly lookedupon him as a chronic doubter.

What we know of him we learn fromincidental references in the fourth Gospel.Here he appears consistently as a hard-headed, insistent sceptic (C 140). True, his was a logical, skeptical type of

mind,

but he had a form of courageous loyaltywhich forbade those who knew himintimately to regard him as a triflingskeptic.

139:8.2 When Thomas joined theapostles, he was twenty-nine years old,was married, and had four children.Formerly he had been a carpenter andstone mason, but latterly he had becomea fisherman and resided at Tarichea,situated on the west bank of the Jordanwhere it flows out of the Sea of Galilee,and he was regarded as the leading citizenof this little village. He had littleeducation, but he possessed a keen,reasoning mind and was the son ofexcellent parents, who lived at Tiberias.Thomas had the one truly analytical mindof the twelve; he was the real scientist ofthe apostolic group. 3

139:8.3 The early home life of Thomashad been unfortunate; his parents werenot altogether happy in their married life,and this was reflected in Thomas’s adultexperience. He grew up having a verydisagreeable and quarrelsome dispo-sition. Even his wife was glad to see him4

join the apostles; she was relieved by thethought that her pessimistic husbandwould be away from home most of thetime. Thomas also had a streak ofsuspicion which made it very difficult toget along peaceably with him.

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Peter was very much upset by Thomas atfirst, complaining to his brother, Andrew,that Thomas was “mean, ugly, and alwayssuspicious.” But the better his associatesknew Thomas, the more they liked him.They found he was superbly honest andunflinchingly loyal. He was perfectlysincere and unquestionably truthful, buthe was a natural-born faultfinder and hadgrown up to become a real pessimist. Hisanalytical mind had become cursed withsuspicion. He was rapidly losing faith inhis fellow men when he becameassociated with the twelve and thus camein contact with the noble character ofJesus. This association with the Masterbegan at once to transform Thomas’swhole disposition and to effect greatchanges in his mental reactions to hisfellow men.

139:8.4 Thomas’s great strength washis superb analytical mind coupled withhis unflinching courage—when he hadonce made up his mind. His greatweakness was his suspicious doubting,which he never fully overcamethroughout his whole lifetime in the flesh.

139:8.5 In the organization of thetwelve Thomas was assigned to arrangeand manage the itinerary, and he was anable director of the work and movementsof the apostolic corps.

VII: THOMAS: THE MAN OF MOODS(Brown 139)

He was a good executive, an excellentbusinessman,

He was a man of moods, but theywere not all moods of doubt and despair.He had his ups and downs (B 139).

but he was handicapped by his manymoods;

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he was one man one day and another manthe next.

We will notice three plain facts aboutthis man of melancholy temperament—first, he had his moods of uncertainty ofdespair. His nature caused him to lean notto “the sunnier side of doubt,” but to theshadier side (B 140).

He was inclined toward melancholicbrooding when he joined the apostles,

but contact with Jesus and the apostleslargely cured him of this morbidintrospection.

XII: THE MAN WHO HAD TO BESHOWN—THOMAS (Clausen 140)

139:8.6 Jesus enjoyed Thomas verymuch and had many long, personal talkswith him.

His presence among the apostles was agreat comfort to

It is the questioner who stays convincedonce you have won him....

And such men convinced, are theonly points of contact with other honestdoubters everywhere. Such men can givea reason for their faith (C 149).

all honest doubters

and encouraged many troubled minds tocome into the kingdom, even if they couldnot wholly understand everything aboutthe spiritual and philosophic phases of theteachings of Jesus.

Thomas’s membership in the twelve wasa standing declaration that

[Jesus] labeled no sceptic as heretic. Heknew the contribution of doubt. He lovedThomas for his slow yielding (C 144).

Jesus loved even honest doubters.

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X. The perfect balance of His character. (Speer119)

139:8.7 The other apostles held Jesus inreverence because of some special andoutstanding trait of his replete person-ality, but Thomas revered his Masterbecause of his superbly balancedcharacter.

Increasingly Thomas admired andhonored one who was

1. He was lovingly merciful andinflexibly just. He combines thesequalities in His instructions to Hisdisciples (Matt. v. 48; Luke vi. 36) (S119).

so lovingly merciful yet so inflexibly justand fair;

3. He was firm, but not obstinate(John xiii. 1-11) (S 119).

so firm but never obstinate;

4. He was calm and self-contained,but not indifferent (Mark iv. 37-41) (S120).

so calm but never indifferent;

6. He was helpful, but not officious(S 121).

so helpful and so sympathetic but nevermeddlesome or dictatorial;

7. He was strong, but not rough;vigorous, but always gentle (S 121).

so strong but at the same time so gentle;so positive but never rough or rude;

8. He was feminine, but noteffeminate. We see His unsurpasseddelicacy and tact in the story of thewoman with the issue of blood.... Hiswomanly tenderness was scarcely lessapparent when, a few hours later, Headdressed the little maid, Jairus’sdaughter, in her own tongue, and withmotherly solicitude provided at once forthe child’s needs (S 121-22).

so tender but never vacillating;

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9. He was innocent and yet forceful(S 122).

so pure and innocent but at the same timeso virile, aggressive, and forceful;

10. He was courageous, but neverrash or foolhardy (S 123).

so truly courageous but never rash orfoolhardy;

VIII. His broad human knowledge and interest innature. (Speer 99)

Now it is not surprising that a goodman should love and study nature, for thelove of nature and nature’s society is asign and fruit of unselfishness.... But evenJesus’ love of the open air and thecountry life and the warmth of the sun onsea and mountain gave way to the sternwork and stress of life and suffering (S104).

such a lover of nature

but so free from all tendency to reverenature;

IX. The universality of His character. (Speer 105)

Jesus “is never said to have laughed,and yet He never produces the impressionof austerity, moroseness, excessivesadness, or being ever unhappy. We couldnot long endure a being whose face wasnever moved by laughter or relaxed byhumorous play; yet we have sympathywith Christ, for there is somewhere inHim an ocean of deep joy ...” (S 117).

so humorous and so playful,

but so free from levity and frivolity.

It was this matchless symmetry ofpersonality that so charmed Thomas. Heprobably enjoyed the highest intellectualunderstanding and personality appre-ciation of Jesus of any of the twelve.

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VII: THOMAS: THE MAN OF MOODS(Brown 139)

139:8.8 In the councils of the twelveThomas was always cautious, advocatinga policy of safety first, but if hisconservatism was voted down or over-ruled, he was always the first fearlessly tomove out in execution of the programdecided upon. Again and again would hestand out against some project as beingfoolhardy and presumptuous; he woulddebate to the bitter end, but when Andrewwould put the proposition to a vote, andafter the twelve would elect to do thatwhich he had so strenuously opposed,Thomas was the first to say, “Let’s go!”He was a good loser. He did not holdgrudges nor nurse wounded feelings.Time and again did he oppose lettingJesus expose himself to danger, but whenthe Master would decide to take suchrisks, always was it Thomas who ralliedthe apostles with his courageous words,

In the second place, this man ofmoods had his hours of high courage.When word was brought that day to Jesusin Galilee, “He whom thou lovest issick,”—sick unto death as the eventproved,—Jesus immediately said to hisdisciples, “Let us return to Judea, ourfriend Lazarus is sick.”

The other disciples did not want togo....

But Thomas was all for going.... “Letus also go that we may die with him.”

“Come on, comrades, let’s go and diewith him.”

He saw the enemies of Christ standingyonder with stones in their hands, but hesaid, “Let’s go!” It may mean death, but“Let’s go!” (B 147)

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139:8.9 Thomas was in some respectslike Philip;

[XII: THE MAN WHO HAD TO BESHOWN—THOMAS (Clausen 140)]

he also wanted “to be shown,”

but his outward expressions of doubtwere based on entirely differentintellectual operations. Thomas wasanalytical, not merely skeptical. As far aspersonal physical courage was concerned,he was one of the bravest among thetwelve.

139:8.10 Thomas had some very baddays; he was blue and downcast at times.

[Out of this name has grown the tradition that hehad a twin-sister, Lydia (Patres Apost. p. 272), orthat he was a twin-brother of our Lord (Thilo, ActaThomas, p. 94) ... (“Thomas,” Smith’s DB [1870],p. 3234).]

The loss of his twin sister

when he was nine years old hadoccasioned him much youthful sorrowand had added to his temperamentalproblems of later life.

When Thomas would becomedespondent, sometimes it was Nathanielwho helped him to recover, sometimesPeter, and not infrequently one of theAlpheus twins. When he was mostdepressed, unfortunately he always triedto avoid coming in direct contact withJesus. But the Master knew all about thisand had an understanding sympathy forhis apostle when he was thus afflictedwith depression and harassed by doubts.

139:8.11 Sometimes Thomas would getpermission from Andrew to go off byhimself for a day or two. But he soonlearned that such a course was not wise;he early found that it was best, when hewas downhearted, to stick close to hiswork and to remain near his associates.

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But no matter what happened in hisemotional life,

He had his doubts clear up to the time ofthe Resurrection and beyond. Even thatfirst Easter had not set his mind entirelyat rest. But with splendid courage anddevotion, he kept right on being anapostle (B 148).

he kept right on being an apostle.

When the time actually came to moveforward, it was always Thomas who said,

“Let’s go,” he said—and on he went inthe path of fidelity to the highest he saw(B 149).

“Let’s go!”

139:8.12 Thomas is the great exampleof a human being who

In the third place this man of moodsfinally beat his music out—he faced hisdoubts and slew them (B 152).

has doubts, faces them, and wins.

He had a great mind; he was no carpingcritic. He was a logical thinker; he wasthe acid test of Jesus and his fellowapostles. If Jesus and his work had notbeen genuine, it could not have held aman like Thomas from the start to thefinish.

The twelve apostles were sturdy, outdoormen, farmers, fishermen, peasants and thelike. They had a keen sense of fact; theylived close to the ground and were notexcitable nor flighty. Read what they saidand study what they did, if you thinkotherwise.

He had a keen and sure sense of fact.

At the first appearance of fraud ordeception Thomas would have forsakenthem all.

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Scientists may not fully understand allabout Jesus and his work on earth,

And here among them was one man whowas particularly strong on the criticalside.

but there lived and worked with theMaster and his human associates a manwhose mind was that of a true scientist—Thomas Didymus—

He was like the man who said to hisfriend, who was of a dogmatic turn ofmind, “I wish I could be as sure ofanything as you seem to be of every-thing.” How much it means, therefore,that the religion of Jesus won suchcomplete devotion from this man whowas a doubter! (B 154-55)

and he believed in Jesus of Nazareth.

139:8.13 Thomas had a trying timeduring the days of the trial andcrucifixion. He was for a season in thedepths of despair, but he rallied hiscourage, stuck to the apostles, and waspresent with them to welcome Jesus onthe Sea of Galilee. For a while hesuccumbed to his doubting depression buteventually rallied his faith and courage.He gave wise counsel to the apostles afterPentecost and, when persecution scatteredthe believers, went to Cyprus, Crete, theNorth African coast, and Sicily,preaching the glad tidings of the kingdomand baptizing believers.

And Thomas continued preaching andbaptizing until he was apprehended by theagents of the Roman government and wasput to death in Malta.

[Tradition credits him with the authorship of aGospel (see GOSPELS [APOCRYPHAL], 6)(“Thomas,” Hastings’ DB [1909], p. 932).]

Just a few weeks before his death he hadbegun the writing of the life andteachings of Jesus.

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11. SIMON THE ZEALOT

139:11.1 Simon Zelotes, the eleventhapostle, was chosen by Simon Peter. Hewas an able man of good ancestry andlived with his family at Capernaum. Hewas twenty-eight years old when hebecame attached to the apostles. He wasa fiery agitator and was also a man whospoke much without thinking. He hadbeen a merchant in Capernaum before heturned his entire attention to the patrioticorganization of the Zealots.

139:11.2 Simon Zelotes was givencharge of the diversions and relaxation ofthe apostolic group, and he was a veryefficient organizer of the play life andrecreational activities of the twelve.

139:11.3 Simon’s strength was hisinspirational loyalty. When the apostlesfound a man or woman who floundered inindecision about entering the kingdom,they would send for Simon. It usuallyrequired only about fifteen minutes forthis enthusiastic advocate of salvationthrough faith in God to settle all doubtsand remove all indecision, to see a newsoul born into the “liberty of faith and thejoy of salvation.”

VIII: SIMON ZELOTES: THE MANWHO WAS A FLAME OF FIRE (Brown161)

139:11.4 Simon’s great weakness washis material-mindedness.

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He could not quickly change himself from

Were the choice to lie between anarrow, bitter, partisan nationalism and abroad, human internationalism, everyintelligent and upright patriot wouldinstantly enroll himself as an inter-nationalist. But the option is not thuslimited. [Etc.] (B 168)

a Jewish nationalist to a spirituallyminded internationalist.

Four years was too short a time in whichto make such an intellectual andemotional transformation, but Jesus wasalways patient with him.


VII: The perfect calm and evenness of His life.(Speer 94)

139:11.5 The one thing about Jesuswhich Simon so much admired was theMaster’s

[contd] “The impression made on us bythe appearance of Christ is that of perfectrepose, calm self-possession, serene self-reliance....

calmness,

Everything which He began wasaccomplished with assurance, andinevitably attained its object...” (S 94-95).

his assurance,

poise,

4. In the last bitter experiences of Hislife He bore Himself with evencomposure (S 96). and inexplicable composure.

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X: THE MAN WHO BURNED UP—SIMON (Clausen 116)

Meanwhile what has been happeningto Simon the official Zealot, rabidrevolutionist and fearless firebrand? Jesushas touched him, but with what result? Hehas lost none of his deep discontent withthe selfish encroachment of the “powersthat be.” ... But all this social fury becametransformed into practical constructivepatience. All those outbursts of destruc-tive anger were translated into eagerwillingness to build up the blessedKingdom of God (C 125-26).

139:11.6 Although Simon was a rabidrevolutionist, a fearless firebrand ofagitation,

he gradually subdued his fiery natureuntil he became a powerful and effectivepreacher of “Peace on earth and good willamong men.”

Simon was a great debater; he did like toargue. And when it came to dealing withthe legalistic minds of the educated Jewsor the intellectual quibblings of theGreeks, the task was always assigned toSimon.

Watch this boastful iconoclast, thisshocking rebel, yield to Christ’s influencewhile Jesus changes him into the patient,persistent builder of foundations hiddenunder the surface for the structure of theKingdom of God (C 127).

139:11.7 He was a rebel by nature andan iconoclast by training,

but Jesus won him for the higher conceptsof the kingdom of heaven.

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VIII: SIMON ZELOTES: THE MANWHO WAS A FLAME OF FIRE (Brown161)

Simon the Zealot stood with the partyof protest (B 162).

He had always identified himself with theparty of protest,

but he now joined the party of progress,unlimited and eternal progression of spiritand truth.

Simon was a man of intense loyalties

How much can be achieved by menof warm devotion, even where they lackthe qualities of first rate leadership! (B171)

and warm personal devotions,

and he did profoundly love Jesus.

[God can use them all, the believing and thedoubting, the sanguine and the phlegmatic, theoptimists and the pessimists! (B 157)]

139:11.8 Jesus was not afraid toidentify himself with business men,laboring men, optimists, pessimists,philosophers, skeptics, publicans,politicians, and patriots.

139:11.9 The Master had many talkswith Simon, but he never fully succeededin making an internationalist out of thisardent Jewish nationalist. Jesus often toldSimon that it was proper to want to seethe social, economic, and political ordersimproved, but he would always add:“That is not the business of the kingdomof heaven. We must be dedicated to thedoing of the Father’s will. Our business isto be ambassadors of a spiritual govern-ment on high, and we must notimmediately concern ourselves with aughtbut the representation of the will andcharacter of the divine Father who standsat the head of the government whosecredentials we bear.” It was all difficultfor Simon to comprehend, but graduallyhe began to grasp something of themeaning of the Master’s teaching.

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1. Contrast: He did three things which were distinctive. First, he brought a man in every way abler thanhimself to Christ (Brown 71).

2. Why should [Andrew] have been so consistently excluded from the inner circle? (Ward 23)

3. Doubt has become the great heresy. We are suspicious of its honesty in analysis. Science seems ourenemy.... The doubter is scorned (C 143).

4. He was querulous and gloomy, always disposed to look at the dark side (“Thomas,” Hastings’ DB, p. 932).

139:11.10 After the dispersion becauseof the Jerusalem persecutions, Simonwent into temporary retirement. He wasliterally crushed. As a nationalist patriothe had surrendered in deference to Jesus’teachings; now all was lost. He was indespair, but in a few years he rallied hishopes and went forth to proclaim thegospel of the kingdom.

SIMON. (Smith’s DB 3045)

5. SIMON THE CANAANITE (Smith’s DB 3045).

Simon the Canaanite is reported, on thedoubtful authority of the Pseudo-Dorotheus and of Nicephorus Callistus, tohave preached in Egypt, Cyrene, andMauritania (Burton’s Lectures, i. 333,note) ... (SDB 3045).

139:11.11 He went to Alexandria and,after working up the Nile,

penetrated into the heart of Africa,everywhere preaching the gospel of Jesusand baptizing believers. Thus he laboreduntil he was an old man and feeble. Andhe died and was buried in the heart ofAfrica.

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Paper 139 — The Twelve Apostles - KEY1. ANDREW, THE FIRST CHOSEN8. THOMAS DIDYMUS11. SIMON THE ZEALOT

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