Personalities in the Bible
by Dan Seagren
Previous Columns Mary and Martha: Sibling Rivalry Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-5Sisters are siblings and siblings are notoriously noted for both intense rivalry as well as exceptional bonding. Mary and Martha seem to support this thesis. Since there are several women in the New Testament named Mary, this Mary is identified as the sister of Lazarus and Martha.
Interestingly, Luke, the physician, merely gives a short paragraph to the situation of the illness and death of Lazarus and seems to ignore the medical aspects in favor of the psychological. Here is what he writes in response to Martha’s concern that Mary wasn’t helping her in the kitchen: Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:41, 42).
When we take the Bible literally (as we should do in most instances), we often get into trouble because we fail to understand the context and the underlying message of the words. If Jesus arrived somewhere near the hour when a meal is in order, and in a culture where a traveler is always welcome and hospitality should (must) be extended, Martha was not remiss by preparing a meal, nor was she overly thoughtless in expecting Mary to help her in the kitchen.
This is made even worse when Mary was apparently sitting at the feet of Jesus absorbing everything he had to say. Lazy? Indifferent to her sibling? Infatuated? Unaware of time and protocol? An opportunist? Spiritually hungry? Here is where we have some difficulty in fathoming the words of Jesus. Was he establishing a universal maxim that listening to the words of Jesus is more important than etiquette? That it is more important to have one’s morning devotions than feeding the family breakfast?
Caution must always be taken when interpreting Scripture. Historically, only the clergy were expected to interpret scripture and it is rather recent that lay persons have been encouraged to not only study Scripture but teach it. This of course is not without mixed results (not excluding clergy who also err from time to time, and on occasion, grievously).
Now, having said this, it seems that Jesus was making an indelible point. He knew Mary and Martha fairly well and so his comments were not off the cuff. Ultimately, it is more important that we sit at the feet of Jesus than be absorbed exclusively by a hot stove or its equivalent (anything that takes us away from spiritual things). When Jesus said that Martha was worried and upset about so many things, Martha found it difficult to isolate the most important. And so do many of us. It seems as though the remarks of Jesus were less directed at Martha for hanging out in the kitchen while Mary sat as his feet than trying to rearrange her priorities.
How many will be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven, not because of grievous sins but because of becoming entangled with matters (trivial and otherwise) that keep us away from the Master. Mary loved Jesus, not in a sensual way but in devotion to him which is why on another occasion she anointed his feet with perfume and dried them with her hair. And Jesus loved Mary, and her sister and brother. John, unlike Luke, goes into some detail about this encounter when Lazarus died. Both sisters hinted that if Jesus had come right away when he was notified of the seriousness of Lazarus’ illness, he wouldn’t have died.
However, if Lazarus had not died, he wouldn’t have been raised from the dead. He would perhaps only have been healed of his illness. Jesus, in his divine wisdom, anticipated his own death and his resurrection, reassuring his believers, then and now, that he was the Savior of us all. His ways are often past finding out and in careful humility, we continually strive to interpret him skillfully.
return to top Lazarus: Two Contrasting Personalities John 11:1-44
One of the wonders of studying Biblical personalities is the opportunity to delicately read into the background, personality and humanity of some unknown quantities. Very little is known of this Lazarus except that he was brother to Mary and Martha. Interestingly, the other Lazarus was a beggar who also died and went to his eternal reward (Luke 16:19-31).
There are those who claim both of these episodes as stories, parables or allegories. Jesus was a great storyteller and to them it was a fictional account of the beggar Lazarus.However, it is unlikely that the account of Lazarus of Bethany was fiction. For our purpose, we will treat both of these characters are living personalities, not as fictitious characterizations. It is for some to deny the power of a resurrection for intellectual reasons and to disclaim any life after death but both of these episodes challenge those assumptions.
When the beggar, who had been ignored by the owner of the house where Lazarus set up shop (for his begging survival) died, he went to the abode of the dead and an angel brought him directly to Abraham. This reinforces at least two distinct truths Jesus wants us to know.
The first is that everyone who dies does not simply disappear. They go somewhere other than to an earthly grave. The second is that not everyone who dies ends up in the same place. These two truths we hold to be evident from this event. This is for many reassuring. For others it is mystifying and hardly comforting. The rich man actually seemed more concerned for his family than for himself as he asked that Lazarus return to earth to warn them first hand, as if they would listen.
Now we go to Lazarus of Bethany. He was quite opposite to the beggar as he enjoyed the amenity of siblings, a home and more than adequate provisions for his death. Apparently he was a personal friend of Jesus. How and where they met we are unsure. Apparently, both were single and possibly about the same age. Both had a Jewish heritage and presumably many things in common. It seems that all three, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, were admirers of Jesus, and may have entertained him in their home on more than one occasion.
Lazarus had become ill, seriously so, and Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus to come before it was too late. Quite recently, a boyhood friend and colleague of mine, had fallen and was taken to the hospital where he lapsed into unconsciousness. He was thoroughly examined and it was discovered that he was in the final stages of a previously undiagnosed terminal illness.
When I found out, I called the hospital precisely when he had suddenly emerged from an unconscious state. I was put on the phone where we had a brief conversation. I debated whether I should pay him a personal visit and finally decided to do so. I went immediately to the hospital where we had a pleasant, nostalgic conversation. The next morning he was gone.
I’ve often wondered why Jesus was in no hurry to get to Lazarus. By the time he arrived, Lazarus was dead. Jesus then went to the tomb where he had been laid four days earlier. He called him by name and Lazarus walked out of the tomb. This caused considerable rejoicing but also a cynical consternation among the chief priests who sought to put Lazarus to death to help neutralize the growing power and popularity of Jesus. This failed to occur but led to the eventual false arrest and feigned hearing of Jesus which resulted in the crucifixion, death and resurrection just as it was preordained. Now we know in part why Jesus lingered for awhile.
return to top Titus: Pastoral Supervisor Titus 1-3
Pastors occasionally, usually or always need supervision is a moot question. The early church found that supervision was necessary and Titus was one of the early supervisors. Today the church is not uniform when it comes to supervision but generally, most religions and denominations have a chain-of-command system.
There are pastors, bishops, archbishops and cardinals; there are superintendents, presidents, and supervisors. Internally there are elders and deacons, boards and consistories; they can be elected, appointed or ordained. And there are many more designated roles, too many to mention.
In the First Century Church, records are scant. We must rely upon the New Testament primarily, and tradition and other writings, secondarily. We know very little about Titus and he is not mentioned in the Book of Acts but is known from the letter that bears his name and some references in Paul’s letters (e.g. I and II Corinthians and Galatians). Apparently Titus worked with Paul, was his companion on some of his missions, and became a trusted, well-mentored young man.
Paul seems to have been to isle of Crete to establish some congregations but we know that Titus was sent to Crete to finish the job and to supervise the existing churches on the island. Crete had a very highly developed civilization from about 2000-1500 BC but it declined after that and at the time of Titus it had a rather unsavory reputation that they are always telling lies, are greedy and lazy like wild animals (Titus 1:12 CEV).
At Pentecost in Jerusalem, Cretans were present and presumably brought the gospel back to Crete. Consequently, Crete seemed to be a challenging place with several city-states and scattered congregations needing supervision. This was no place for a rookie but Titus, although young, was well-mentored and seasoned enough that Paul sent him to the island to supervise the fledgling churches and their leaders. Rather than leave Titus supervise or superintend strictly on his own, Paul wrote this letter (possibly even more than one) encouraging as well as advising.
Early in my own ministry, I, a rookie, was sent to a fledgling church to establish it, organize, setup a constitution, purchase property and build up the congregation with no blueprint, mentoring or direct supervision. Today, we have specially-trained nucleus builders, developers with carefully outlined blueprints on procedures sent to do this kind of work. Paul, in a sense, was ahead of the curve. He gave Titus a blueprint and due to necessity, off-site supervision.
Titus was blessed by Paul (You are like a son to me) and I pray that God our Father and Jesus our Savior will be kind to you . . . Titus was to appoint leaders in each church who are of good repute, sensible, kind and pure. Tell the older men to be sensible and the older women to quit gossiping and drinking excessively. Tell the young to have self-control in everything. Use your full authority to encourage and correct. Remind the people to respect the rulers and authorities and warn the troublemakers once or twice. Then don’t have anything to do with them.
Paul ends his letter to Titus in typical fashion: Greetings to you from everyone here. Greet all our friends who share in our faith. I pray the Lord will be kind to all of you. Apparently, Titus needed all the encouragement and divine blessings possible. He may have lived a long life, and traditionally, a fragment from the lawyer Zenas, Titus is referred to as Bishop of Gortyna, one of the most influential cities in Northern Crete in the first century.
return to top Philemon: Christian Slave Owner Philemon 1-25
Slave ownership has been an issue within Christendom for ages, including our own country. Even some prominent citizens owned slaves, either by inheritance or through acquiring. Today, slavery (the ownership of human beings for menial service) is not only illegal but not generally an issue. However, in Biblical times, some slaves were considered more as servants, and some even rose to high positions for their owners.
In today’s society we do have some forms of servanthood (usually without so-called ownership) with maids, butlers, valets, chauffeurs, bodyguards, nannies, nurses and the like. Some are treated as family while others do not enjoy that distinction.
Again, we are amazed at the inclusiveness of the Scriptures, Old and New, which cover so many topics, directly and indirectly. Philemon apparently was a member of the church at Colossae in good standing. Yet he owned slaves as did many citizens at that time. One of his slaves, Onesimus, seems to have defrauded his master in some way and fled from Colossae to Rome where he bumped into Paul. How this happened we do not know but Paul won him over and he became a believer. And more than that, Onesimus in gratitude endeared himself to Paul, so much so that Paul was reluctant to let him go.
Paul was then confronted with a dilemma. If he would have encouraged Onesimus to continue dwelling in Rome, even with his new found faith, he would have been harboring a fugitive, a runaway slave, consequently violating Roman law which protected slave owners. Paul therefore urged the runaway to return to his master. Being quite persuasive, Paul did not throw Onesimus to the wolves. Rather, he sent a letter to Philemon urging him to take Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a member of his household.
Paul praised Onesimus in the letter delivered to Philemon, a man of great faith, and for his sympathizing and forgiving spirit, a changed man. Besides, Paul, who was responsible for Philemon’s conversion, reminded him that he owed him one. Unfortunately, we do not know the result of his return but we can guess that it was favorable.
Civil disobedience has become a runaway phenomenon in some instances. Laws, imperfect as many are, too often complex, belabored and even swollen with frivolous amendments and provisos, are not always easy to obey. This short epistle of St. Paul is not only simple (not simplistic) but profound. We can be fortunate that it is included in the Biblical canon because of its implications. Civil unrest and at times a passive disobedience may be necessary, not as a first resort but when all else fails.
Even then, it can be accomplished with compassion and reason rather than violence and insolence. Despotic regimes, such as the Roman rule in the first century, evoked considerable dismay and even disobedience. If slavery actually is repugnant to the Christian faith, why did Paul seem to affirm it? He knew the young church was vulnerable and had already had been persecuted with more to come. In all likelihood, Paul sensed that the Roman government was looking for reasons to stomp out this fledgling sect (as it was considered) before it caused too much damage.
Harboring a runaway could have been the excuse the alien government needed to even more diabolically harass the church than it was already inclined to do. Civil disobedience is not an easy choice and may evoke more damage than it hopefully intended to diffuse.
return to top Tychicus: An Unheralded Companion: Acts 20:1-6
There are so many believers, wonderful people, who often work behind the scenes and get little or no credit for what they say and do. Tychicus was one of these. We know little about him except that he was a companion and helper to Paul and was Asian. He is also mentioned briefly in four epistles.
Not long ago, I had a cup of coffee with a friend and was introduced to a young man who was acquainted with my friend. On my way out, I saw him sitting outside the coffee shop with his computer. I stopped for a moment to engage in a brief conversation which led to an explanation of what he was doing.
He owned a business and used this opportunity to get out of the office for some free time alone (until I invaded his solitude). He told me he was involved in his church with the youth and was working on a program which he called Tychicus designed to help others, particularly teens. [Incidentally, type in Tychicus in a search engine such as Google and you’ll be amazed].
Paul soon discovered that he couldn’t be a one man show. As previously mentioned, he might have been difficult to work with although he cultivated many helpers, assistants, co-workers whom he used extensively to extend his own mission in life. Were he to be the pastor of a congregation over a long period of time, he may not have worn too well. It is one thing to mastermind a expansion program and quite another to stick with a solitary segment of it.
Whether Paul was one of those go there, do this or else kind of leaders we cannot be certain. At times this might have been the case. Tychicus is a reminder that he was involved in several missions at Paul’s behest and Paul was quite generous in his praise about this rather unknown companion as well as others.
The Christian church is fortunate in that it has individuals at all levels in its operation that are quiet workers, willing to assume various tasks without any fanfare, and are often unrecognized and underpaid (dare we use that expression). These range from custodians to senior pastors. I am reminded of the custodian who was asked how he got along so well with everyone. His response: I put myself in neutral and let everybody push me around.
Paul operated on the road, with short stays in certain locales but he also operated while under house arrest and later while in prison. Consequently, he had to deputize his colleagues and acquaintances to become his ambassadors from Jerusalem to Rome and many points in between. He did this by writing letters (called epistles) which were directed to a specific church with a distinct message for that congregation.
Some of these letters became general epistles read by several congregations as they made the rounds. Interestingly, although most epistles dealt with a specific set of problems or opportunities for that congregation, their application was much more extensive.
The church today finds this also true. One congregation may need the admonition found in Ephesians while another needs the message of Colossians. The admonition found in Philemon relating to slavery may not be apropos but the message on civil disobedience may be right on target. How the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament spoke to the early church and speak to the contemporary church alike is another of the marvels of Scripture. Likewise the ministry of many akin to Tychicus are so vital in both the expansion and essentials of the church.
return to top Satan: A Despicable Personality John 12:27-32
The word devil literally means a slanderer, a fallen angel or infernal spirit. Satan is called the devil and the god of this world from his power and influence (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4). He has various titles given him in Scripture expressing his character:
Satan (Job 2:6); Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24); Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15); Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12); Dragon (Revelation 12:7); Adversary (1 Peter 5:8); Prince of Darkness (Ephesians 6:12); Apollyon , or Destroyer (Revelation 9:11); Angel of the bottomless pit.He is represented as a sinner from the beginning (1 John 3:8); a liar (John 8:44); a deceiver (Revelation 20:10); and accuser (Revelation 12:10); and a murderer (John 8:44).As we have seen, Satan is not presented in Scripture very favorably. And understandably so. Why then should we include him in the list of Biblical characters? A good question. For those who consider the devil to be a fictional creation, he hardly belongs in a list of personalities. For those who think of satan as a mythological invention, he may or may not belong in a list of non-mythological characters. For those who believe that satan was an angel who rebelled and was cast out of heaven together with his devotees, he could be an unlikely character in a list of personalities.
Satan is alive and well but his prognosis is not good. He is given a certain amount of latitude here on earth to do his dirty work. He is subtle at times, and on occasion he travels incognito. He can be vicious and demanding, and seems fearless even though he no doubt is fully aware of his ultimate fate.
As with angels who are rarely seen, they do exist and occasionally appear in times of trouble or when sent on a mission. There were angels at the tomb of Jesus who were quite visible, and when Mary and Joseph were in a quandry over her pregnancy, an angel appeared to give them the assurance they needed that this was God's doing, not a human predicament.
Most of us may have never seen an angel but many of us no doubt have sensed their presence. Likewise with Satan who is also known by names Beelzebub, Belial, Apollyon and Lucifer. We would do well to consider the devil as a living force in our society. At times there are human deeds that defy humane limits. We joke that The Devil made me do it when in fact it may not have been a joke. It is not a copout when we are unable to explain (apart from intoxication or an addiction perhaps) inhumane behavior to ascribe it to Satan.
As we have already seen in the many personalities of the Bible, some behavior cannot be explained in human terms. There is both a divine presence active as well as a demonic force operative. To wage war against the forces of evil on our own is a losing battle. To seek the wisdom and power of the Almighty and His Son is not only an option but a necessity. We would do well to not underestimate the power and presence of the devil and his legion of demons who delight in doing his mischief and worse.
return to top
Jude: A Kindred Spirit Jude 1: 1-25
Some people are known by what they have done, or by what they have written, or by an association with someone well known. Others remain anonymous either by preference or otherwise.
Jude is one of those kindred spirits. He is known for the next to the last book in the Bible. He calls himself the brother of James, probably to differentiate himself from others named Jude or Judas. It was a common name in the First Century and there are seven persons named Judas in the New Testament. In addition, three are named James.
By inference, it is commonly understood that he is the brother of James but which one? James, the brother of John, the son of Zebedee? Probably not. James the Less, the son of Alphaeus, and one of the Disciples of Jesus, distinguished from the brother of John? Being called the less was probably not derogatory but used to properly identify him. The third James to whom he could be a brother would be a younger brother of Jesus which would mean that Jude was also a brother of Jesus (or half-brother as Joseph probably would have been Jude's father). He also seems to have been called called Thaddeus in a listing of the twelve Disciples.
This gets complicated but it is not without reason. Most of us enjoy our personhood, our ancestry, our relatives (except perhaps a black sheep) and Jude was no exception. There are those who believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a perpetual virgin, giving supernatural birth to only one child. Consequently, some explain that the brothers (and sisters) of Jesus mentioned in Scripture were in fact cousins. But this also muddies the waters and so we move on without knowing for certain, or we can be dogmatic about his relationship.
If you want to push the issue further, you could ask why Jude claimed to be the brother of James rather than the son of Joseph, if that were the case. We do know that Joseph apparently died before all the children reached the age of accountability which may explain this omission.
Jude, relatively unknown except for his twenty-five verses in the Book of Jude, seems to be the kind of a kindred spirit, the kind of a person we enjoy having around. This may not have been the situation with all of the Disciples. He was also convinced that Jesus was the one his people had waited for so long, and he was deeply concerned about false teachers, both subtle and blatant, who could and did move in and subvert (undermine) the early believers.
Listen to his own words: My dear friends, I really wanted to write you about God's saving power at work in our lives. But instead, I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has given to his people. Some godless people have sneaked in among us . . . He continued by gently reminding them that the the Scriptures long ago warned against these godless impostors reminding them that even some fallen angels were severely chastised.
Again, he uses the words, My dear friends, as he continued to warn his readers, urging them to keep building on the foundation of your most holy faith, as the Holy Spirit helps you to pray . . . be helpful to all those who may have doubts . . . then with fear in your own hearts, have mercy on everyone who needs it. Jude does seem to demonstrate this kind of kindred spirit so necessary in our time as well. His benediction is a beautiful tribute to his faith, and ours:
Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. Before time began and now and evermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power and authority. Amen
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Jesus: His Last Years: Part III John 3:16As this is written, Judas Iscariot has been rediscovered. Coinciding with the Da Vinci Code, a best-seller written by Dan Brown, the ancient Judas manuscript has also made headlines. In both of these titles, the traditional character of Jesus has been questioned. More than that, it has been undermined, intentionally or otherwise.
This Gospel of Judas manuscript (not the original) has now been translated with the message that Judas was not the black sheep in the family of Disciples. Rather, he was the only one who knew the real Jesus. In turn, Jesus confided in Judas to betray him which would release him from the bondage of his earthly body. Although there may be an element of truth in this, it is contradictory to the four Gospels and Judas and others were not accepted as authentic by the early Christian church.
The Da Vinci Code is a modern composition purporting to be fiction while boldly testifying to some aspects of the novel as non-fictional. In spite of numerous details in the book which are technically inaccurate, Brown has created a curious blend of fact and fiction causing both confusion and questioning of authentic Christian faith.
This includes the suggestion (and that is all it really is) that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had a child who married into a secret dynasty kept hidden for centuries by a sect of the Roman Catholic Church. This is but one of the bits of information indiscernible by many as fiction.
Earlier in this series on personalities we discussed the childhood and later life of Jesus. Now we have come to his last moments. For centuries, scholars and amateurs alike have interpreted the life and death of Jesus with interesting results. Some readily admit that Jesus was a great storyteller (parables in particular) but not much more. Others claim that he was simply a peasant who was hyped by his followers. A few recognized his unique ability to question or challenge the status quo which got him into trouble. And so on.
As we conclude this brief series on personalities in the Bible, we are reminded that no religion has predicted (prophesied) the future like the Judeo-Christian faith. The predictions in the Old Testament that have already come to pass are amazing. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that other predictions in both Testaments will undoubtedly come to pass as well. It is wise to keep one eye on the Bible and the other on world events.
In spite of all the superficial speculation on the purpose of Jesus Christ (storyteller, humanitarian, impostor, martyr or mediocre theologian), Scripture makes it indelibly clear why Jesus was born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, buried, rose again. . . He came to seek and to save those who are lost. He came to make the supreme sacrifice for our sins. He took upon himself a human form, temporarily, voluntarily as the obedient son of God, the Father.
Scripture also makes it clear that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. It also claims that just as Jesus departed from the earth, he will return again in the same manner. These broad generalizations are adequate to dispel myths, rumors, contradictions and denials. Yet are powerful enough to demand intense scrutiny and have weathered the test of time.
It is true that we do see through a glass darkly, or as the image in a faulty glass is blurred. We know only in part and those who know more will still be lacking. Exactly how many dates have been set for his return we know not. Nor do we fully fathom why God chose to redeem mankind in this manner. What we do know is viable and for that we are liable. This is God's idea, not ours. Our redemption is not earned but granted to all who believe and live accordingly. So be it, Lord. Amen.
return to top In Conclusion
There are innumerable personalities in the Bible. Some are mentioned in detail; others are simply mentioned with little or no detail.
This study has taken just over one hundred of the more notable personalities and limited the study to 500-600 words per personality. The decision to choose was somewhat at random. Even though it is not inclusive it is quite representative.
At times there was sufficient information in the Biblical text to warrant a deeper analysis. On other occasions, there was very little to go on necessitating a certain amount of supposition. Interestingly, the Bible, in its sixty-six books, is an amazing document in many ways. It is not overburdened with heavy theological content or ponderous material although certain parts of Scripture are indeed difficult to understand much less master.
Yet there is a considerable amount of history included along with some rather detailed anecdotal material which makes the reading less formidable. This is surrounded by some exceptionally fine literature, both in poetic and prose forms. It also involves considerable mysticism, particularly in apocalyptic utterances giving insights into the future without specific detail enabling scholars and ordinary readers to predict dates and persons.
The Bible is candid, even blunt at times, when it comes to people, places and happenings. King David is depicted as a gallant warrior as well as a magnificent ruler but also described with his flaws and shortcomings. Ruth, on the other hand, shines as a fluorescent luminary in dreary circumstances.
These vignettes are suggested not as the final word on these personalities but as suggestive thoughts with the hope that you, the reader, will build upon what is written, using your own insights, skills and conclusions. Knowing these personalities will enable you to visualize the magnitude of individuals embodied in Scripture yet similar to your friends, family, neighbors and other significant people in your circle of acquaintances.
Use them as you see fit. They can provide inspiration and illumination in your own life as well as help you better understand Scripture and people.
Study to show yourself approved unto God as a student who need not be
ashamed as you interpret and apply God's word with insight and reverence.Dan Seagren
June 2006return to top Index to All Personalities