New Testament Christianity – J. B. Phillips

This is a short and sweet book of 107 pages, written with clarity and thoughtfulness. It introduces not only the main concepts behind Christianity in the New Testament, but Phillips’ ideas around service and community as Christians.

 

Phillips begins by writing about his difficult job as a translator but the privilege he felt delving into the words inspired by God and put onto paper by mere humans. He encourages us as readers to read the gospels (and any part of the bible for that matter), not just once, but several times – and in a version that we are not familiar with, so as to not read the familiar words and attach the presuppositions that we carry to that text. This is important lest we lose “the over-all sweep and much of the significance of the gospel narratives.” I wonder how many times I have read the gospel stories and not really understood the true depth of what Jesus is saying and doing because I have heard it so many times before and bring my bias to my reading.

 

Perhaps my favourite part of the book, is a narrative that Phillips has constructed about earth, humanity, and God, called ‘The Angels’ Point of View.’ It would be too long to write out here, but I would definitely encourage you to read it. It is a humbling and beautiful piece that speaks of the love and sacrifice of Christ to visit us in our brokenness. Of his immense power and majesty and the enormity of his creation, yet the fact that it was us that he chose to come and dwell amongst. We cannot begin to understand why we are the pinnacle of God’s creation, nor why he cares so much for us, but he does – and this is wonderful news that is worth celebrating!!!

 

Throughout the book, Phillips focuses on four core principles that are seen in the New Testament Church – Faith, Hope, Love and Peace. Faith, he describes, is the ‘faculty by which the unseen is grasped, drawn upon and lived by.’ Throughout the gospels Jesus encourages us to use this faith faculty – to knock, to seek, to have faith (Matt 7:7-8). He celebrates the faith of the centurion (Matt 8:5-10) and marvels at the lack of faith of the people in his own hometown (Mark 6:6). Actively seeking Jesus and having faith in who he is, the King of the world, ruler of the heavens and earth, is what we are called to do. Do we, the Church, purposefully seek to understand and use the resources that God has given to us? Do we put aside time to develop our ‘faith faculty’ in quiet and solitude with God?

“No one is too busy to set aside a period of, say, a quarter of an hour each day for such quiet. (We are all rather ridiculous here. For if we knew for certain that a space of a quarter of an hour’s quiet was essential for our physical health, for example, we should unhesitatingly make room for it. It would become a top priority. Can we not see that such a period, which should be regarded as a minimum, could be absolutely essential for our spiritual health?).”

I know that I, too am guilty of this, but I believe that it is so important to spend this time, wherever we are at, to better understand the unseen, to draw upon the love and strength of God, and to worship him and all that he is and does.

 

Hope. Hope in the bible is far more than a wish or desire for something to happen. It is a confident expectation built on the reality of God and his purposes, both known and unknown to us. In the New Testament, we see this hope – not simply wishful thinking, but hope that involves faith, belief, and confidence that God is who he says he is. In addition, NT Christians are seen to be acting on this hope, not sitting back passively wishing for something to happen. We can see that we are not to merely wish for someone’s wellbeing, expressing a hope that they find shelter, food, clothing, but to actively seek to assist (James 2:14-17). God is active now. He is not simply waiting for a future day to decide to start moving in the lives of people on earth. Jesus acted. He did not simply send well-wishes to people who came for healing and teaching, but he provided and loved practically. Do we live out our hope, or is it merely a wish for the future? Are we willing to act alongside God, following what he asks us to do, and to expectantly wait on how he melds everything together for good?  

 

Love. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that “faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Jesus brought a whole new meaning and understanding to love. The love that we feel towards another person - partner, sister, parent, or pet (just to name a few) is only a glimpse of the love of the Father for the Son, which has overflowed to us. Love that is wider, longer, higher and deeper than we can ever fully comprehend (Eph 3:19). What is our response to the love that has been showered upon us? 1 John calls us to love each other in response to the love of Christ (1 John 4:11). “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.” (1 John 5:1). Do we live out this love in our lives? How are we loving the people around us? Are we making sacrifices for others? Loving people that others do not show love and compassion to? Are we following the example of the only true love, God, who is himself love? Phillips states that “love is the greatest because men are never transformed at heart permanently except by love… above all, love is the greatest because it persists beyond the confines of this temporal existence.” This gives me such hope and joy, to be reminded that love endures, it never fails (1 Corinthians 13:7-8; Psalm 136).

 

Peace. “As we study New Testament Christianity we are aware that there is an inner core of tranquility and stability… it was not mere absence of strife or conflict… anxiety… or a complacent self-satisfaction, which can often produce an apparent tranquility of spirit. It was a positive peace, a solid foundation which held fast amid all the turmoil of human experience.” Our peace comes from Christ. We know that no matter what, his plans for us are good. We can know that when we are sharing our life with Christ, when we are living for his purposes, we can know the peace of God.

 

How do we live out these core elements of Christianity seen in the New Testament Church? Spending time in prayer, quiet, worship. In Acts 2:46-47 the believers worshipped together, praising God. In Paul’s letters we see that he is constantly praying for others (Colossians 1:3-14). Throughout the New Testament we see the church are putting into action the love of Christ that they have experienced. They love the sick (Acts 3:6), they fellowship together, share belongings and give to those in need (Acts 2:42-44). Do we do the same? Are we actively looking outwards to those we are called to serve? Are we following the example of Christ in our day to day lives? Are we taking time to be with our Heavenly Father and hear what we is speaking to us? Do we worship in the highs and the lows? Think on these things, keep talking and sharing with one another, encourage one another and hold hope that God has everything in control and holds all things in his hands.