The Mutual Faith of Both You and Me - Glenn Conjurske
The Mutual Faith of Both You and Me
by Glenn Conjurske
“For I long to see you,” writes Paul, “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” (Rom. 1:11-12). Writing on the twelfth verse, Bloomfield says, “The scope of this verse is, I apprehend, to explain what has been said, and to soften what might seem to savour of harshness and arrogance. … He therefore intimates that he does not mean to insinuate that the advantage will be all on their side; but that he himself hopes to derive spiritual benefit.” The verse, then, is an expression of Paul’s humility. But I have seen this text employed where I am unable to regard it as anything other than an expression of pride.
Years ago I met a young man who, though he had some zeal, was very ignorant, knowing little but the common shallow Christianity of the day. He was teachable, however, and I began to work with him, to instruct him, to put good books into his hands, etc. This went on for perhaps five years, from time to time, as opportunity afforded. But he, belonging to the Plymouth Brethren, soon began to preach among them. He really had no business to do so, nor they any business to allow it, much less encourage it, as he had no character for it. He was lazy and irresponsible, failing to keep his commitments, late for everything, generally looking to get something for nothing, and too ready to sacrifice principle for the sake of influence, besides other things I could mention. At any rate, I observed a great change to come over him. He was no longer teachable, but became rather belligerent, and more determined to instruct me than to learn from me. In short, he was puffed up with pride.
From this time it seemed that Romans 1:12 became his favorite text, and he never failed to refer to it in all his dealings with myself. Now I felt that this was not right, though I could not exactly put my finger on what was wrong with it. Most everything he knew he had learned from me—-not that he had learned it very well—-yet he was determined to teach me, and quite ready to accuse me of pride because I did not embrace the enlightenment which he thought he had to offer, though I would gladly have received light from him if he had had any to give. I felt, therefore, that his use of Romans 1:12 was rather presumptuous. Still it was Scripture, and I could not argue with Scripture. I therefore said nothing.
Since then I have seen others use the same verse in the same way, and further meditation on the subject has given me a clearer understanding of exactly what is wrong with it. When Paul wrote these words, he was addressing his inferiors. He was addressing those who had much to gain from him, though he, humble as he was, hoped to gain something from them also. But frankly, it was not at all likely that he would gain much from them. When Paul went up to Jerusalem, to confer with the apostles and pillars of the church, who were in Christ before him, he yet must say, “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.” (Gal. 2:6). What likelihood was there, then, that he would receive much from the Romans?
Yet observe, when Paul says that the apostles and elders at Jerusalem added nothing to him, he is speaking of doctrine and of understanding. When he speaks of receiving something from the ordinary saints at Rome, he is not speaking of doctrine or understanding, but of comfort, or encouragement, as we might translate the term. The idea that Paul expected to be taught by the Roman saints is against all reason, and really has nothing to do with what the text actually says. The verse says, “that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” He says nothing of being taught by them. He went to them, as he tells them, “to the end that ye might be established,” not that he might be.
To be short, those who love to quote this verse are generally wrong on two counts. First, they invariably apply it to doctrine or to teaching, with which it really has nothing to do. Next, they parade it before their superiors, which is directly contrary to its proper spirit. For Paul to speak thus to the Romans was a mark of a becoming humility. For them to have spoken so to him could only have been the mark of a presumptuous pride.
That pride is perhaps the chief characteristic of modern Christianity, and those who are puffed up with it seem instinctively to fall upon Romans 1:12, and turn Paul’s expression of his humility into a prop for their own pride. If this is not wresting Scripture, what is?
Glenn Conjurske