Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915), an American writer and philosopher who, along with his wife, died aboard the RMS Lusitania when it was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915, observed that "suffering makes kinsmen of us all." The sufferings and afflictions of living within a fallen world are common to us all, as are the occasions of discouragement that arise from such. Some are able to weather these storms, while others are overwhelmed by them. "If afflictions refine some, they consume others," wrote Thomas Fuller (1654-1734). The English author and physician, Dr. W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), rightly noted, "Suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive." From a strictly human perspective, Dr. Maugham has a point when he stated, "It is not true that suffering ennobles the character." Far too often, these afflictions embitter us, causing us to lash out at our circumstances, at others around us, and at our God. "Why this? Why me? Why now?" We cry out, in a crisis of faith, "Where are You, God?! Are You even there anymore? Do You even care?!" We feel abandoned; betrayed; used and toyed with. Or, as the German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) phrased it, "It is not so much the suffering as the senselessness of it that is unendurable."

Throughout the writings of both the OT and NT, we find countless accounts of suffering. Men, women, children, families and nations, animals, even afflictions that beset the physical creation itself. Frustration abounds in these accounts; confusion and despair; appeals to God for mercy. And all, or so it often seems to us, with NO response and NO relief. Yes, we are assured, we'll understand it all "by and by;" some glad morning it will all be better; tears and sorrow will be no more! Yet, for far too many suffering souls, this seems to be little consolation. Even creation itself seems to have surrendered to the misery of the moment, hoping against hope for some far distant deliverance: "The creation waits in eager anticipation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:19-22). As the creation groans as it experiences frustration in the face of its own form of "suffering," so also do its inhabitants in the face of their own afflictions.

And yet, in the face of such afflictions, and even in spite of them, the people of God are charged time and again in the Scriptures to be of good cheer; to be joyful; indeed, to rejoice in our sufferings, counting ourselves blessed and privileged to suffer for the Lord and His cause. The apostle Peter wrote, "To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing" (1 Peter 4:13). Jesus said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, The Living Bible). Although we believe in and trust in His victory, that does not diminish the reality of our present "trials and sorrows," and being cheerful and joyful as we endure them is not a natural response. "It is impossible for the believers, by their own reason and strength, to lead the life demanded by the will of God" [Dr. Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible - The NT, vol. 2, p. 320]. Therefore, the Lord informs His people that, although they will be experiencing suffering as they journey through this life, He will provide them, as a gift of His grace, the ability to weather these storms, and even to do so with an inner sense of peace and joy that the world will scarcely comprehend. Jesus informs us, "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid" (John 14:27, New Living Translation). "Obviously, these are gifts - the result of Christ's glorious might working within us" [Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam, The Communicator's Commentary - Colossians, p. 340]. David Lipscomb (1831-1917) wrote that this gift of grace from the Lord "enabled the Christians to meet all their trials with a buoyant sense of mastery" [A Commentary on the NT Epistles, vol. 4, p. 256].

Although the above thoughts only scratch the surface of the teaching of the Scriptures on this subject, I would like to call your attention (in light of the above thoughts) to a statement made by Paul in his epistle to the Colossians (which he wrote while imprisoned in Rome). Paul informs these disciples of Jesus that he has not ceased to pray for them (Colossians 1:9), asking God to assist them in their efforts to walk in a manner worthy of His divine calling of them (vs. 10). Then, in verses 11-12a, Paul prays that they may be "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father" (King James Version). Notice that phrase: "with joyfulness" - in the Greek it is "meta chara," which literally means "with joy." The Welsh theologian, minister, and author, Matthew Henry (1662-1714), stated, "This we could never do by any strength of our own, but as we are strengthened by the grace of God" [Commentary on the Whole Bible, e-Sword]. Little wonder, then, that the word "chara" ("joy" - which appears 59 times in the NT) flows naturally from the word "charis" ("grace"). With the grace given to us by our God, we are thus empowered not only to withstand life's trials and tribulations and sufferings, but to do so with steadfastness and patience and even joy! This is not natural, but supernatural. "The world wonders at the saints who can be so joyful in their King, in spite of the drawbacks and difficulties to which they are exposed" [The Pulpit Commentary, vol. 20 - Colossians, p. 43]. Just imagine what the other prisoners at the jail in Philippi must have been thinking as they listened to Paul and Silas "praying and singing hymns of praise to God" (Acts 16:25) after having been beaten severely and "thrown into the inner prison and their feet fastened in the stocks" (vs. 23-24). This was a "joy" unfathomable to the world.

Such "joy is no flippant exuberance, no gushy bubbling of surface feeling self-conjured up. It is the subdued ecstasy of knowing and being known, of loving and being loved, by God. Joy, unlike happiness, is not dependent on circumstances and people. Joy is the expression of Christ indwelling us, the fruit of the Spirit even growing out of the soil of difficulties and suffering" [Dr. Maxie D. Dunnam, The Communicator's Commentary - Colossians, p. 341]. James, the brother of our Lord Jesus, wrote, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). "The true strength of the believer consists, not so much in what he can do, as in what he can endure (Isaiah 30:15). The characteristic of both patience and longsuffering is 'joyfulness.' To suffer with joyfulness is the great distinction and triumph of the Christian spirit" [The Biblical Illustrator Commentary, e-Sword]. "Observe the holy paradox of the thought here. The fulness of Divine power in the saints is to result primarily not in 'doing some great thing' but in enduring and forbearing, with heavenly joy of heart. The paradox points to one deep characteristic of the Gospel, which prepares the Christian for service by the way of a true abnegation of himself as his own strength and his own aim" [The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, e-Sword]. John Gill (1697-1771), the English Puritan pastor, author, and theologian, rightly observed, "This requires strength above that of nature, and a renewed supply of Grace" [Exposition of the Bible, e-Sword]. Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910), a distinguished Scottish non-conformist minister known for his remarkable biblical exegesis and powerful preaching, wrote that Paul has laid a very heavy duty upon us, "when he put before us an ideal of joy mingling with patience and longsuffering. The command would be an impossible one if there were not the assurance that we should be 'strengthened with all might.' We plainly need an infusion of diviner strength than our own, if that strange marriage of joy and sorrow should take place" [Expositions of Holy Scripture, e-Sword].

In His Sermon on the Mount, at the end of the section known as The Beatitudes, Jesus says, "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12). And Jesus set the example in evidencing such inner joy: "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1b-3). When listing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the second quality of this fruit that he lists, coming right after love, is JOY. The Lord has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit empowers us to show love and joy, and to possess a peaceful and patient spirit, even in the face of severe trials and afflictions, just as Jesus did when He faced the same (and worse). Yes, wrote Paul, it is possible to be "sorrowful yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10) if we are Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. "This paradox is genuinely Pauline, and arises from personal experience" [The Pulpit Commentary, vol. 20 - Colossians, p. 6].

Although this passage (Colossians 1:11-12) is both challenging and comforting (the former in that we are called to be patient and longsuffering with joy; the latter in that we are assured of the power of the Lord to accomplish this), this passage is also a bit confusing, and it has been contested by biblical scholars for centuries because of the grammatical ambiguity of the phrase "with joy." The problem is: there is no certain way of telling if that phrase should go with what comes before it (patience and longsuffering) or what comes after it (giving thanks to the Father). "It is debatable whether 'joyfully' should be construed with" the former or the latter [The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 11, p. 179]. Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, the noted Greek scholar, writes, "Some connect it with 'giving thanks' (vs. 12), and this is favored by the construction of the previous clauses: in every good work bearing fruit ... with all power strengthened ... with joy giving thanks" [Word Studies in the NT, vol. 3, p. 466]. "From early times, some have connected this phrase ('with joy') with the next verse, mainly on the ground of the parallelism of the structure of the clauses (in Greek)" [Dr. Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible, e-Sword]. Albert Barnes (1798-1870), in his work Barnes' Notes on the Bible, wrote, "The Syriac version, Chrysostom, and a few manuscripts attach this phrase to the following verse, and read it: 'With joyfulness giving thanks to the Father.' The only difference is in the pointing, and either reading makes good sense" [e-Sword]. Barnes is right. Whether we point the phrase backward to longsuffering and patience, or whether we point the phrase forward to thanking our God, the idea of doing so joyfully is equally applicable. The question, of course, is: which view is the one Paul held as he wrote the text?

The more difficult reading for the Christian, of course, is the one that suggests we can, and perhaps even should, suffer with joy. That goes against our nature; it seems impossible and unnatural. Yet, as we have noted, all through Scripture we are challenged to do just that. Thus, moving this phrase to the following verse does not solve our problem, for many other passages link joy to suffering. On the other hand, it is understandable that we would find joy from expressing heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving unto our God and Father. We rejoice in His many blessings, and are thus joyful in our expressing of thanks to Him. Thus, we find this personally more appealing than the thought of joyfulness in our afflictions. Consulting the various Greek manuscripts doesn't help, for those manuscripts that have added punctuation marks differ among themselves as to which part of the passage should be connected with this phrase. Some place the comma or semi-colon or period after the word "longsuffering," while others place the punctuation mark after the phrase "with joy." Consulting the English translations also isn't helpful, for of the many versions I consulted (and I consulted hundreds), about half chose one reading, and the other half chose the other. Scholarship is split down the middle on this. Following are just a few examples:

Linked to Verse 11

1. American Standard Version - "...unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;"
2. Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition - "...in all patience and longsuffering with joy,"
3. English Standard Version - "...for all endurance and patience with joy;"
4. God's Word Translation - "...patiently endure everything with joy."
5. King James Version - "...unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"
6. Revised Standard Version - "...for all endurance and patience with joy,"
7. Wycliffe Bible - "...in all patience and long abiding with joy,"
8. Young's Literal Translation - "...to all endurance and long-suffering with joy."

Linked to Verse 12

1. New American Standard Bible - "...joyously giving thanks to the Father,"
2. New International Version - "...and giving joyful thanks to the Father,"
3. Christian Standard Bible - "...joyfully giving thanks to the Father,"
4. Common English Bible - "...giving thanks with joy to the Father."
5. Good News Translation - "And with joy give thanks to the Father,"
6. Holman Christian Standard Bible - "...with joy giving thanks to the Father,"
7. Mounce Reverse Interlinear NT - "...while joyfully giving thanks to the Father,"
8. New Century Version - "And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father."
9. New Living Translation - "May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father."
10. Tree of Life Version - "With joy we give thanks to the Father,"

Many, many more examples could be given for each of these two understandings. Additionally, in a number of these versions there is a footnote provided in which the alternate reading is given as being equally possible grammatically. In other words, we simply don't know which is the correct reading. Perhaps the most gracious comment by a commentator is that of Albert Barnes (noted above), that "either reading makes good sense." The problem a good many Christians have here is that such ambiguity, such textual uncertainty, challenges their long-held conviction that the Bible, word-for-word (even the punctuation), is "God-breathed" into the original writers, and thus is absolutely flawless in every respect. Some would go even beyond this, suggesting that only one version of these collected writings is worthy of any kind of respect (which can be seen in the "King James only" sect). This, frankly, is a form of bibliolatry that is both deceiving and dangerous, which I dealt with in my article titled "From Biblicism to Bibliolatry: Have We Made the Bible an Idol?" (Reflections #829). The reality is: these collected writings are the product of mere men, collected and collated by committees and councils. They are anything but flawless, which can be illustrated by countless examples, and thus they have the potential for being the source of confusion for those who revere the Scriptures (or a specific version of them) rather than the Savior revealed within them.

I do not bow before the Bible. It is not an idol; it is not worthy of reverence. It is a book. However, and I stress this, it contains a revelation/message that IS worthy of my reverence! It points to the nature of my Father and the redeeming work of His Son, and I readily bow before them!! I value the Bible as a powerful source of ultimate Truth. The Bible itself is not that ultimate Truth, but it contains it!! It is not a book of regulations for a new religion, but a book of revelations about a renewed relationship between fallen men and a faithful Father through the gifts of the Son and the Spirit. It is a LOVE book, not a LAW book, for those in a dispensation of GRACE. Many today, like the religionists Jesus rebuked in John 5:39-40, search the Scriptures thinking that "in them" they have salvation. They were wrong then, and they are just as wrong today. The Scriptures are not the source of salvation; they merely point to the One who IS. I revere the latter, not the former. I find great value in the Bible, for it serves a divine purpose: it reveals Good News. Thus, we should not become overly concerned when a certain phrase like "with joy" is ambiguous. If you want to apply it to verse 11, that's fine with me. If you want to apply it to verse 12, that's fine with me. It is consistent with the Message either way, and the focus of that flawless Message is what ultimately matters. Let not thy faith be distracted by the medium; there is only One who is flawless: our faith and salvation are in HIM. Therein lies the flawless Message of divine love and grace!

From a Reader in Florida:

Dear Bro. Maxey, I am sending you a check for your special thumb drive containing your class and materials on "The Nature of Man: And His Eternal Destiny." There aren't words to express my appreciation for all you do! Thank You!! I am praying that our Lord will continue to bless you.

From a Reader in California:

Al, I appreciate your good studies and am grateful to be on your distribution list. I'm changing my email address, and I wanted to let you know so I could continue to receive your Reflections. Thank you.

From an Author in Alaska:

What kind words you had for my book and me in your last issue of Reflections! Thanks, Al. I've just read your article "Over-Rebounding on Baptism: Response to a Reader's Concern about My Article on a 'Waterless Washing'" (Reflections #888), and also the previous article: "A Wondrous Waterless Washing: Pondering the Washing of 1 Corinthians 6:11 in Light of Context and Authorial Intent" (Reflections #887). The meat of this issue, as always, goes beyond milk for infants and requires readers to exercise their God-given, grown-up ability to thoughtfully consider biblical logic. I still remember reading one preacher's summary that "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it," and other similar pronouncements designed to cut off any further discussion and to force listeners/readers to blindly accept his position on the matter at hand. Such an approach suggests that only clergy possess all truth, not the Scriptures: a troubling conclusion when so much of the Bible has multiple meanings designed to get its readers to respond to God's wisdom.

From a Reader in Alabama:

Thanks, Al, for your article "Over-Rebounding on Baptism." Our mutual friend Edward Fudge once told of a pulpit minister who wanted to talk to him about what the elders were desiring of him with regard to a sermon on baptism. The minister said he'd had several sermons on the topic already, but that he felt he could get some fresh information from Edward. So, they got together and discussed the subject. Upon presenting the fresh ideas he had received in his next sermon, a man who had "spurned the invitation" for years came and requested to be baptized. The man later asked the minister if he was curious about why he had responded positively at this time. "Yes!," replied the minister. The newly born brother said, "All these years you have been preaching baptism. When you finally preached Jesus, I wanted to be baptized!" We should all be willing to accept "new" truths (new to us) as we grow in wisdom and knowledge, and we should always be open to fresh ideas from others.

From a Reader in Texas:

Al, I had the opportunity to be riding home with a fantastic Bible class teacher after our recording session with Praise and Harmony in Decatur, Alabama. On this ride back to Houston, he mentioned this article ("Over-Rebounding on Baptism") and read a short quote from it. We had a brief discussion, because we both understand the concepts you have dealt with in your writings concerning baptism. One thing catching in my mind through this teacher's wisdom was his statement, "I am more concerned with why someone would not want to be baptized." In our history, we have been leading people to baptism because we didn't want them lost; now we are trying to give them a fuller understanding of the purpose behind baptism. But, how much time have we spent trying to understand what holds people back from being baptized? Subject to change, my current belief concerning baptism is that Jesus went into the waters of baptism for exactly the same reason I enter the waters of baptism. I believe He went into baptism not only as a physical witness to those around Him, but also as a declaration that He was 100% in the plan of God for all mankind. I currently see my own act of baptism in water being the same declaration to all that I am thankful for the commitment of Jesus to God's plan for us and that I have placed my confidence, trust, and commitment to that same plan.

From a Reader in Texas:

Great job, Al, on your study "Over-Rebounding on Baptism." Keep digging and sharing! Truth always finally prevails.

From a Reader in Georgia:

Al, I don't know about you, but being compared by your critics to Rubel Shelly and Max Lucado would be a compliment, at least from my perspective! These are two guys who are willing to think outside the box, and boldly state their views, and also challenge the views of others. I like that. Such men challenge me to THINK, and not just to memorize dogma. But the "haters" ...Wow! They say to you, "Burn in hell." They are truly something else! Jesus said to forgive them for they know not what they do. Al, Thank You for challenging me to read and think things through!!

From a Reader in North Carolina:

Dear Bro. Al, Thank you for sharing another fine, well-researched and well-explained article ("Over-Rebounding on Baptism"). As always, it was thought-provoking and very interesting reading. I really appreciate the extra work you put into researching the intent of the New Testament authors. I am also very puzzled and dismayed that anybody could read your article "A Wondrous Waterless Washing," in your intended and plainly explained context, and reach a conclusion that you were denying baptism!! I totally missed that when I read your article! Like you, I have also questioned the assertion of some people that 1 Corinthians 6:11 has water baptism in mind. Honestly, I think you nailed its true meaning in your study. Sadly, it seems we have our own "revisionists" within the Churches of Christ. May God continue to bless you, your family, your church family, and your ministry.

From a Reader in Washington:

Al, How thankful we are that the Lord did not give up on us years ago when we were in a legalistic church, and how grateful we are to you, Al Maxey, for your Reflections, for we have grown immensely from reading them consistently for many years. May God continue to open the eyes of those who are willing to know the truth, for it is Jesus who died for us on the cross, and it is all about laying our life down and following Him and His teaching – loving our neighbor as we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Thanks for sharing your studies with us. We have been following you and reading your books and articles for years, and what you speak is Truth. I have been so impressed, and so has my husband, with your humility, in spite of your knowledge of the Scriptures, and of NT Greek, and all of those other things that the average person does not know. You give us clarity and understanding, you speak the truth in love, and then you leave it to us, your readers, to decide for ourselves, rather than forcing your views upon us. Thank you!

From a Minister in Kentucky:

Brother Al, You wrote in one of your articles, "You don't have to be my twin to be my brother!" Thank you for that, Al. I'm gonna steal that (with attribution, of course - LOL). I have long been blessed by your studies and your humility. Even when we disagree, I feel like I'm a better Christian and a better student of God's Word when I've read your Reflections and your books. Bless you, brother!

From a Reader in the Philippines:

Al, Our problem is hermeneutical. The principles by which a lot of us in the Restoration Movement have interpreted scripture, we have used to interpret no other document ever. This method (CENI + silence + expediency) forces division upon us, especially among those in our movement who think all of scripture is a salvation issue. What is really bad is that we then propagate this garbage worldwide to Christians who would get along just fine with one another if we would just get out of their way. I live in the Philippines, and you see here all the time the very same garbage that divides the church everywhere else. I long for the day when we quit preaching the church and start preaching the Christ.

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