DEC 24

Colossians 4:11
Memorise Acts 17:11
“…these only are my fellowworkers…” 

In Colossians 4:11, Paul goes on “And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” Justus, like Aristarchus and John Mark in the previous verse, are “of the circumcision” ie. converted Jews. All three are commended as being both Paul’s fellow workers to advance the kingdom of God, as well as being a source of comfort to Paul by their continuing presence at his side, especially as he was under house arrest in Rome. Of course Paul had more than three fellow workers with him; the word “only” speaks of only these three converted Jews being in Rome with Paul, for in contrast there were many Jews that opposed Paul throughout his entire missionary work. The other companions of Paul in Rome at this time were all Gentiles.

The Roman Catholic Church believes their founder to be the apostle Peter, based not only on an incorrect interpretation of Matthew 16:18, but also by their belief that Peter was in Rome to do so, some believing that Peter was the Bishop of Rome for 25 years! If that were the case, it is rather strange if Paul left out the Apostle Peter’s name from this list of converted Jews in Rome. More significantly, Peter’s name is not mentioned in the epistle to the Romans (Romans 16) either. It was not that Paul never mentioned Peter in his epistles, for he did so in Galatians 2:11-16, but that placed Peter in Antioch, not Rome. What is far more likely is that Peter was never in Rome, and thus could not have founded the church in Rome. Thus the Scriptures singled out these three brethren of the circumcision being in Rome with Paul, to show to us that the Roman Catholic Church is false. 

Dear teen, understand that we must test the truthfulness of all things against the absolute truth of God’s Word. If a purported fact contradicts Scripture, it must be false, no matter how many people say it is true. We must be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to discern truth from error, instead of simply accepting certain facts to be true just because an established major institution like the Roman Catholic Church states it to be fact. There is only one source of absolute truth, and that is the Word of God!

Thought: How quick am I to believe something to be true.
Prayer: May I search the Scriptures daily, that I may not be fooled one day.